Observe The Night Sky!

The Planet Parade

Watch for a spectacular approach between VENUS and JUPITER at the end of November. As Venus speeds around its orbit, its apparent position in our sky will come within two degrees of Jupiter's position on November 30. Throughout the end of November and the beginning of December the two will make a brilliant pair near the Southwest horizon immediately after sunset. Venus will remain visible at sunset throughout the winter; Jupiter will disappear by mid-December.

Your best chance this winter to catch the elusive MERCURY will be the first week of January, when Mercury will be visible immediately above the western horizon for about an hour after sunset.

SATURN has returned to Leo, and will appear at its brightest at the end of the winter. Look for Saturn near Leo's tail in the late evening and early morning hours.

MARS is obscured by the Sun for most of the winter. It will reappear in February near the eastern horizon immediately before sunrise.

Showering Meteors!

The reliable and colorful GEMINID meteor shower will be partially obscured by a full moon this year. Look for meteors throughout the night of December 13/14 that appear to come from the constellation Gemini.

The QUATRATIDS appear to radiate from the constellation Bootes, and can often be very bright. Best viewing will be after midnight on the evening of January 3/4. The moon will be in its first quarter for this meteor shower.

As the seasons change...

The WINTER SOLSTICE will be December 21, when the Northern Hemisphere experiences its shortest day of the year. The VERNAL EQUINOX will be March 20, when every place on Earth will experience almost exactly twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of night.

The Moon