Tuesday, December 20
It is a nice week to get pleasure from naked-eye open clusters, so let’s now flip to Coma Berenices, greatest seen within the early morning hours main as much as daybreak. This constellation rises ever greater within the hours after midnight, nestled between Canes Venatici and Virgo within the east.
We’re planning to residence in on Melotte 111, a magnitude 1.6 cluster spanning about 300′ (that’s 5° of sky!). It’s positioned due south of magnitude 4.3 Gamma (γ) Comae Berenices; Gamma itself sits on the northern fringe of the cluster however will not be a part of the grouping. Melotte 111, additionally known as the Coma Berenices star cluster, is one other object that has been recognized since antiquity. The brightest luminaries are roughly magnitude 5, seen to the bare eye, whereas the cluster additionally accommodates some 50 stars brighter than tenth magnitude which might be simply seen by way of binoculars or a finder scope. Quite than shifting towards or away from our Solar, this younger group of stars seems to be shifting alongside out solar system by way of the Milky Way.
As you may see from the chart above, this straightforward constellation is awash in clusters and galaxies that basically exhibit on this morning’s darkish sky. Even after the Moon rises, its feeble mild shouldn’t intrude a lot. Use the chart or take a look at our latest print function on deep-sky gems in Coma Berenices to seek out extra targets on your telescope or binoculars.
Dawn: 7:18 A.M.
Sundown: 4:37 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:06 A.M.
Moonset: 2:15 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (10%)
Wednesday, December 21
Mercury reaches best elongation east of the Solar (20°) at 10 A.M. EST this morning. The solar system’s smallest planet is seen within the night twilight, shining at magnitude –0.5. Mercury now stands some 8° above the southwestern horizon half an hour after sundown. Its mild will linger within the twilight earlier than the planet disappears from the sky round 6 P.M. native time.
Close by, blazingly vibrant Venus (magnitude –3.9) is a few 4.5° excessive on the similar time, 5° to Mercury’s west (decrease proper). Though Venus is nearer to the horizon, it’s so vibrant that it’s going to stay straightforward to identify till it units about an hour after the Solar. In just some days, a fragile crescent Moon will be part of this pair within the Christmas Eve sky. Keep tuned for subsequent week’s column, which can have extra particulars on that pretty occasion.
The winter solstice happens at 4:48 P.M. EST right this moment, ushering within the official begin of the winter season within the Northern Hemisphere. (This similar date marks the start of summer time within the Southern Hemisphere.)
Lastly, Mars passes 8° north of the brilliant pink big Aldebaran in Taurus at 11 P.M. EST tonight. No matter whether or not you’re an evening owl or an early riser, we’ll take a look at this pair as our goal for tomorrow.
Dawn: 7:19 A.M.
Sundown: 4:38 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:22 A.M.
Moonset: 2:55 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (4%)
Thursday, December 22
Only a few weeks after opposition, Mars stays within the sky a lot of the hours it’s darkish, setting a number of hours earlier than dawn and rising shortly earlier than the Solar units. For those who’re up within the few hours after midnight, look west to see Taurus the Bull sinking towards the horizon. The brightest level of sunshine at the moment on this constellation will not be a star, however is as an alternative the Crimson Planet, Mars. Research that mild for a number of moments and chances are you’ll discover it seems orangey-red. Examine that to the star 8° to its south (decrease left) — this luminary is magnitude 0.9 Aldebaran, whose mild can also seem orange or pink. Aldebaran is a large, growing older red giant star that places out extra mild — however is a cooler temperature — than the Solar.
To the pair’s decrease proper within the early morning is the unmissable Pleaides star cluster, which sparkles because it sinks towards the horizon.
For those who want night viewing, the setup is far the identical — this time, look east as quickly because the Solar units to identify Taurus already effectively above the horizon. Now, Mars sits to Aldebaran’s higher left, with the Pleiades to the pair’s higher proper. Under them, one other pink big is rising: Betelgeuse, the brilliant star marking the shoulder of Orion the Hunter, whose curving bow of stars factors towards the physique of the Bull.
Dawn: 7:19 A.M.
Sundown: 4:38 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:39 A.M.
Moonset: 3:46 P.M.
Moon Section: Waning crescent (1%)
