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Stars In the Sky 12/2008
Venus will be stunning this month in the evening twilight. It climbs higher
and gets slightly brighter as the month goes on.
Venus and Jupiter appear around 2º apart in the western sky in the beginning
of the month.
Jupiter and Mercury are very close together low on the horizon on the last
few days of the month.
The dependable Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13th but a nearly full
moon will interfere.
The less known Ursid Meteor Shower goes from the 17th to the 26th, with the
peak on the 22nd. There will be no moon to interfere and the radiant is near
Polaris so it will up all night.
 Mercury
will be very low on the southwestern horizon after sunset early in the month.
Later in the month it climbs and brightens. Mercury will be around 2º
from Jupiter late in the month. Jupiter will be brighter and higher in the
sky. On the 29th a sliver of the moon can be seen around 6º higher
in the same area.
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 Venus will be visible in the western sky
as it grows dark. It will be shinning at magnitude -4.0. As the month goes
on it will climb higher and get even brighter. It will be so bright that
it will be hard to miss. It shines a brilliant white color. Through a telescope
it will appear to go through phases like the moon. Early in the month it
will look like a 70% fully lit disk. By the end of the month it will appear
less than 60% illuminated but the disk will appear larger in diameter.
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 Mars
will be too close to the sun to see this month. On the 5th it is in conjunction
with the sun. |
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 Jupiter
will be fading into the sunset glare this month. It will still be large
and bright. It will be shining at magnitude -2.0 midmonth. Catch it just
as it starts to grow dark at sunset. Its banded surface and four visible
orbiting moons make it a great sight even through a small telescope although
turbulence will interfere with a perfect view this month. It shines bright
white in color.
On the first of the month Jupiter and Venus come within 3º of each
other. Venus will be much brighter. On the 29th Jupiter is around 2º
from Mercury low on the southwestern horizon at sunset. Both planets will
appear white, with Jupiter appearing brighter. On the 31st they will be
less than 1.5º apart.
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 Saturn
is climbing higher in the predawn sky. It will be near the Leo – Virgo
border. It rises after midnight so the best time to observe it would be
just before morning twilight. As the month goes on it climbs higher. It
shines at around magnitude 1.0 toward the middle of the month. Through a
telescope it will be seen that its beautiful ring system appears very close
to edge on. |
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 Uranus
It should still be visible this month. It will be highest in the sky near
the south as it gets dark. This will be the best time to observe it when
there is less atmosphere to look through. It will be sitting near the northeast
border of Aquarius. Uranus should be easy to spot as it will be very close
to the star 96 Aquarii. Uranus gets very close- about 2/10th of a degree
to 96 Aquarii. This will be a good day to spot it. Though binoculars you
will see a double star. Through a telescope the dimmer star will appear
pale aquamarine and may appear as a small disk. With careful observing over
the month Uranus will appear to move relative to 96 Aquaraii from south
to the east. |
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 Neptune
will be a marginal target this month. It sits lower in the sky than Uranus.
Just as it gets dark will be the best time to look for it. It will be in
northeastern Capricornus. Neptune will be shining at magnitude 8.0. On the
26th Neptune will be around 1.5º north of Venus. This would be a good
challenge with binoculars. Through a telescope Neptune shines with a pale
blue color. |
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 Pluto
will be an impossible target this month. It is too close to the sun to see.
It is in conjunction with the sun on the 22nd. |
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