February's Celestial Spectacles

Maldivians live busy lives, during the day at least. The country, though, is known for a lack of nightlife and evening recreation. Over time, Maldivians evolved to take up political activities and idle hours spent in cafe’s to pass the night away. We clearly forget that we have something most of the world does not; expanses of untouched, raw nature at our feet and unrivalled sky views above us at night. 

Atoll Times is here with a list of several cosmic events happening this February so that Maldivian nightlife gets enriched with a touch of modern day utopian experiences where people are becoming more protective and loving of the planet we all call home.

Throughout February, the moon takes up different planets as its dance partner, appearing in conjunction in the night sky. On February 5th, it twirls close to the fiery Antares, followed by a mesmerising tango with the dazzling Venus on February 7th. Later, it inches towards Saturn and Jupiter on February 11th and 15th, respectively. Finally, the grand finale arrives on February 22nd, when Mars can be seen so close to the moon, even to the naked eye, with Venus close by. 

From February 5th to 12th, the Alpha Centaurids meteor shower paints the southern sky with fiery streaks. While not the most prolific of meteor showers we are lucky enough to see in Maldives all the time, if you are lucky enough, and patient enough to catch one of these meteors blazing across the darkness, it will be undeniably captivating. 

The rhythmic dance of shooting stars can have a deeply meditative effect and reduce stress.

On February 9th, the moon vanishes, plunging the night sky into complete darkness. This "Super New Moon" offers a unique opportunity to stargaze better, since without the moon’s spotlight, other distant stars and planets will be easier to see. A super moon is when the moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. A new moon is scarcely visible, so a super new moon will require at least binoculars to explore the night sky. A stargazing app won't hurt either.

As the month concludes, February's Full Moon, nicknamed the "Snow Moon" in many cultures, paints the night sky with its serene glow. Studies show that gazing at the moon can trigger the release of sleep-inducing hormones, promoting relaxation and restful slumber. February 24 can be the evening to spend a lovely time on the beach with friends and family under the moonlight, away from the digital world, and getting our bodies charged.

Based in Cape Town at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) claims that "interacting with the astronomical world improves cognitive skills depleted by mental fatigue and stress through restorative attention". Gazing up at the heavens make us feel small, resulting in our psychological horizons widening, and make people feel connected to each other. 

Staring up into the vast expanses of darkness, we let our minds float in idle serenity, resting it from the screens that dry up our eyes, and helping our sight focus on distant objects. In short, a good eye exercise and stress-relief.

Add the beach to that, the rush from the electromagnetically charged wet sand on our backs as we lay down on the earth, the waves playing its endless playlist, and the salty sea breezes that are still cleaner than most other countries. Earthing and star gazing together, doesn't seem like anything else can top this for Maldivian nightlife.