On Tuesday night, three bright celestial objects hang high in the western sky in a close triangle after sunset. The thin crescent moon appears near two planets, Venus and Mars. The moon gets even closer to Venus on Wednesday night, the first night of February.
There is no mistaking Venus, the brightest planet in the sky. Finding Mars takes a little more effort. Mars is considerably fainter and the farthest of the three.
Thursday, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day, and many will be wondering just how much winter is left ahead for Martha’s Vineyard. Will the legendary Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow?
The Vineyard has no groundhogs and it is perhaps unusual to think that one groundhog in Pennsylvania should predict the future of winter.
Nantucket has adopted its own version of Groundhog Day. A quahaug is shucked. If the bivalve spits to the right when opened, winter is over. A spit in the opposite direction suggests more winter.
Pick your own version to decide what is ahead.
| Day | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Jan. 27 | 6:58 | 4:50 |
| Sat., Jan. 28 | 6:57 | 4:51 |
| Sun., Jan. 29 | 6:57 | 4:53 |
| Mon., Jan. 30 | 6:56 | 4:54 |
| Tues., Jan. 31 | 6:55 | 4:55 |
| Wed., Feb. 1 | 6:54 | 4:56 |
| Thurs., Feb. 2 | 6:53 | 4:58 |
| Fri., Feb. 3 | 6:52 | 4:59 |
| Day | Max (Fº) | Min (Fº) | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 20 | 47 | 34 | 0.00 |
| Jan. 21 | 43 | 37 | 0.00 |
| Jan. 22 | 48 | 39 | 0.00 |
| Jan. 23 | 48 | 37 | T |
| Jan. 24 | 46 | 37 | 2.65 |
| Jan. 25 | 47 | 36 | 0.57 |
| Jan. 26 | 47 | 35 | 0.00 |
This article appears in January 27, 2017.