SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

Brief Calendar of Events

6 Sat Phoenicids meteor shower
7 Sun Puppid-Velids meteor shower
Moon at apogee
8 Mon Full Moon
9 Tue Mercury at greatest elongation east
10 Wed Jupiter at west quadrature
12 Fri Pluto at conjunction
14 Sun Geminids meteor shower
16 Tue Last Quarter Moon
22 Mon Solstice
Moon at perigee
23 Tue Ursids meteor shower
New Moon
27 Sat Mercury at inferior conjunction
29 Mon Comet 2P/Encke at perihelion
30 Tue Mars at east quadrature
First Quarter Moon
31 Wed Saturn at opposition

The Sun and Moon

Solstice occurs on Earth this month, marking the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and the start of summer in the south.

As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the non-zodiacal constellation Ophiuchus to the constellation Sagittarius.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Planet watchers in the southern hemisphere should look for Mercury at sunset before mid-month when it disappears in the Sun's glare. At greatest elongation east on 9 December and inferior conjunction on 27 December, the smallest of the inner planets is in the constellation Sagittarius.
Venus
The "evening star" puts on a fine display for observers in both hemispheres. Look for Venus after sunset in the constellations Sagittarius and Capricornus.
Mars
The red planet does not set until just after midnight in the constellations Aquarius and Pisces.
Jupiter
With west quadrature occuring on 10 December, this is the best time to look at the interplay of shadows between the planet and its four Galilean moons. The king of the gas giants rises before midnight in the constellation Leo.
Saturn
The ringed planet reaches opposition on the last day of the year and is up all night in the constellation Gemini.
Uranus
Uranus sets in mid-evening in the constellation Aquarius.
Neptune
This planet is getting increasingly difficult to see since it sets in early evening in the constellation Capricornus. A small telescope will be necessary to spot it.
Pluto
Pluto as at conjunction on 12 December and cannot be seen in the constellations Ophiuchus and Serpens Cauda.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
Comet 2P/Encke may reach naked eye magnitudes this month in the constellation Ophiuchus. The best views of this comet will be from the southern hemisphere.
Meteors
The Full Moon wipes out both the Phoenicids and Puppid-Velids meteor showers, and the waning gibbous Moon interferes badly with the Geminids. However, dark skies greet northern hemisphere observers looking at the Ursids meteor shower.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.


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