Telescopes reveal a dim bluish disk spanning 2". The two stars are the easternmost pair of a parallelogram of four stars each about 1° apart, located 5° northeast of Phi (ϕ) Aquarii and easily identified with binoculars.Ĭatch Neptune early, as it sets by 1 A.M. The planet is retracing its steps from November as it turns eastward on Dec. Neptune is placed conveniently between two 7th-magnitude stars all month. Neptune shines at magnitude 7.9, requiring at least binoculars to spot. That distance extends to 8° by the 31st, due largely to Jupiter’s easterly motion along the ecliptic. In early December, Neptune stands 6° west of Jupiter. An hour later, as darkness falls across the Midwest, they are 3" apart.īrilliant Jupiter is a useful guide to find distant Neptune in Aquarius these winter evenings. The pair will appear to merge in a telescope. On the 23rd, Iapetus passes briefly very close to Tethys, starting around 6:23 P.M. The transit is underway as darkness falls along the eastern seaboard. Iapetus will appear dark against the brighter B ring. observers on the evening of the 22nd might spot the faint moon passing in front of the rings. It reaches inferior conjunction early on the 23rd and U.S. They become increasingly difficult to spot as the planet’s altitude drops later in the evening. Fainter Tethys, Dione, and Rhea shine at magnitude 10 and lie inside Titan’s orbit. Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is magnitude 8.5 - an easy target for small scopes. A waxing crescent Moon stands 5° southeast of the planet on Dec. The rings’ apparent tilt to our line of sight drops below 14° late in December. Its disk spans 16" and the rings stretch a majestic 36". Saturn lies in eastern Capricornus and starts the month at magnitude 0.7, dropping to magnitude 0.8 by the 23rd. But catch it early, as the ringed planet sets by 10 P.M. Saturn is over 30° high in the south at dusk in early December. Follow the pair as their visibility increases into the third week of the month. 8, Venus is 1.5° high and Mercury is 2° higher 30 minutes after sunset, making them easier to observe in twilight. Mercury stands 3° east of Venus, shining at magnitude –0.6. Venus is relatively easy to spot at magnitude –3.9, but it’s less than 1° high 30 minutes after sunset. 1, the duo sets within 38 minutes of the Sun. They climb higher each day, moving in tandem as December progresses. Both planets reappear from behind the Sun and start the month still deep in twilight. We’ll begin our tour with Mercury and Venus. And both Uranus and Neptune wander among fainter stars but are easy enough targets for binoculars or small scopes. Jupiter dominates the southern sky after dark. It’s also your last chance to grab a good view of Saturn before it sets early in the evening. Mercury and Venus make a fine pair after sunset, low in the southwest. It’s even occulted by a bright Full Moon for parts of the U.S. Mars grabs the most attention, reaching its most favorable Northern Hemisphere opposition in years. This month, all five naked-eye planets are visible in the evening sky soon after sunset.
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