Lunar conjunctions—when the moon and planets fall into a line—continue during the week of Feb. 8 to 14. The new moon rising on Thursday, Feb. 11 has been joined all week by four planets. Look for this group of sparkles—Saturn, Jupiter and Venus—in the evenings, with maximum viewing on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Mercury is also visible a little farther out.
Pacific newts, with orange bellies and reddish-brown backs, are crossing rain-soaked trails in search of…