Monthly Night Sky information provided by Chris Vaughan (@Astrogeoguy) at Starry Night Education (@StarryNightEdu).
Shortly after the very bright moon clears the rooftops in the east after dusk on Saturday, December 14, the brilliant planet Jupiter will rise to join it. The duo will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some nice foreground scenery. As the moon and Jupiter climb the eastern sky, the bright winter stars […]
The December full moon will occur at 4:02 a.m. EST, 1:02 a.m. PST, or 09:02 GMT on Sunday, December 15. Traditionally known as the Oak Moon, Cold Moon, and Long Nights Moon, it always shines in or near the stars of Taurus and Gemini. The Ojibwe of the Great Lakes region call the December full […]
Look low in the eastern sky after dusk on Monday, December 16 to see the bright, waning gibbous moon gleaming just to the right (or celestial southwest) of Gemini’s brightest stars. Golden Pollux and the brighter, whiter double star Castor above it should still be visible against the moon’s glare. Binoculars (orange circle) will reveal […]
On Tuesday evening, December 17, the bright, 90%-illuminated moon will shine a short distance above (or celestial WNW of) the prominent reddish dot of Mars. The moon and the reddish planet will be close enough to share the view in binoculars, which will also show the widely scattered stars of the Beehive Cluster below Mars. […]
The star Algol in the constellation of Perseus represents the glowing eye of Medusa from Greek mythology. Also designated Beta Persei, it is among the most accessible variable stars for skywatchers. During a ten-hour period that repeats like clockwork every 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 minutes, Algol dims noticeably and re-brightens by about a […]