Exclusive Extras: February 2025 Unveiled in BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Virtual Planetarium

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel present the highlights of the night sky for February 2025.

Interview

Lunar phases poster

Access our lunar phases poster for Moon dates and timings for the year 2025.

Lunar phases poster 2025 (PDF)

Messier Catalogue poster

Download our poster detailing each object in the Messier Catalogue. How many can you check off the list?

Messier Catalogue poster (PDF)

Binocular and Deep-Sky Tour Charts

Retrieve this month’s binocular and deep-sky tour charts. The charts are produced in black ink on white paper to allow viewing under red light at your telescope.

SAN 237 Binocular Tour (PDF)

SAN 237 Deep-Sky Tour (PDF)

Southern Hemisphere Sky Chart

SAN 237 Southern Hemisphere Chart (PDF)

Observing forms

Document your observations of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and the Sun with our convenient printable forms.

If you observe the Sun, always remember NEVER to gaze at it with your unaided eye; project it through your telescope or utilize a solar filter on your telescope’s front lens.

Jupiter observing form (PDF)

Mars observing form (PDF)

Saturn observing form (PDF)

Venus observing form (PDF)

Solar observing form (PDF)

Readers’ Gallery

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Eye On The Sky

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Software

Download Argo Navis Deep-Sky Tour

This month’s deep-sky tour blueprint can be imported into the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer using Argonaut software, a complimentary tool provided by Wildcard Innovations. Utilizing Argo Navis with this month’s deep-sky tour blueprint, you can:

• present crucial data from the Argo Navis database for each celestial object

• maneuver your telescope to each target in the plan – requires a matching mount.

• direct your telescope to each target in the plan using the coordinates shown on the Argo Navis display.

To import this month’s deep-sky tour blueprint into Argo Navis via Argonaut software:

Download and save the file onto your hard drive.

Execute the Argonaut utility program and transfer the blueprint into your Argo Navis DTC.

This month’s Deep-Sky Tour blueprint is created by Deep-Sky Planner 8 (see knightware.biz/dsp).

Copyright Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd.

Download Deep-Sky Planner

This month’s Deep-Sky Tour blueprint is generated by Deep-Sky Planner 9 (see knightware.biz/dsp).

Copyright Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd.

License type Complete software
Platform Windows
Versions 10, 11

Deep-Sky Planner 9 astronomy software for Windows delivers the resources necessary to enhance your experience at the telescope and make it more enjoyable.

Organize the items in the plan based on the optimal time and sequence for observing each target.

Telescope your ASCOM-compatible Go-To mount to each target in the plan – necessitates ASCOM software (free).

Provide a sky chart centered on each object in the plan employing one of the leading planetarium software titles – requires TheSky, Starry Night, Redshift, Cartes du Ciel (free) or Stellarium (free).

Document your observations in the open, non-proprietary observing log.

Information about Deep-Sky Planner and purchasing options can be found here.

Download the Deep-Sky Planner compatible file of this month’s deep-sky tour observing blueprint to directly visit each target with Deep-Sky Planner.

Store the file on your hard drive and double-click it to open it in Deep-Sky Planner.

Download EQTOUR

If you are among the many astronomers utilizing the ASCOM driver EQMOD to operate your ASCOM-compatible Go-To mount, you can utilize an add-on application named EQTOUR to access various sets of sky tours such as Messier, Caldwell, and Globular Clusters, simply clicking on an object name to navigate to it.

Information regarding the application and how to download it at no cost can be found here.

Download the EQTOUR-compatible file of our monthly Deep-sky tour, allowing you to visit each object directly from your EQMod control panel. Additionally, we’ve included a PDF document detailing the system and installation process with your telescope setup.

Transfer the .lst file from the displayed folder into the same directory as the EQTOUR application file, EQTOUR.exe, and adhere to the instructions in the provided link above.

Download SkySafari

License type Complete software

Platform iOS, Android

Versions 4 or subsequent (Plus or Pro editions)

This month’s deep-sky tour blueprint can be imported into SkySafari software, obtainable from Simulation Curriculum.

Using this month’s deep-sky tour blueprint on SkySafari, you are able to:

• observe each object in SkySafari’s night sky simulation view

• present vital information from the SkySafari database for each celestial object

• configure your telescope to each object in the plan – necessitates a compatible mount.

For guidance on importing this month’s deep-sky tour blueprint into SkySafari, please refer to the SkySafari user manual corresponding to your device platform and version of SkySafari.

This month’s Deep-Sky Tour blueprint is generated by Deep-Sky Planner 8.

Watch the Sky at Night

You can view the latest episode of The Sky Night, along with previous episodes and historic programmes from the archive, through the BBC Four Sky at Night webpage.

For additional content, explore our guide to the finest astronomy programming on the BBC.