Posted on 12/09/2021 8:20:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus have lined up in the evening sky and will continue to be prominent features throughout most of December, but this week, the trio will get a visitor.
The easy-to-find planets, paired with the approaching peak of the Geminid meteor shower, make December a great month for evening stargazing. The only caveat is that the weather can be fickle during the long December nights, often offering frosty conditions on nights that are not cloudy.
The moon started off the week next to Venus, and as the week progresses, it will continue to move up the chain, passing by Saturn and Jupiter. These close encounters will be great opportunities for photographers and stargazers with a telescope hoping to see a planet and the moon in the same field of view.
By Friday evening, the moon will be at the top of the line, appearing in the southwestern sky shortly after nightfall.
The only thing that is needed to enjoy the show is cloud-free weather, but using a telescope or pair of binoculars can reveal some of the bigger moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
Noticed that on my SkyView app.
Clear skies here in Kumamoto , Japan today . I shall check out the sky tonight . We have a perfect view of the southwestern sky . Thanks for the heads up .
I got rain here tomorrow night.
A real time simulation on SkySafari will have to do it for me.☹️🔭
I think it’s supposed to be cloudy here in the southeast. Boo hiss.
Great. Now I’ve got that song stuck in my mind.
Venus and the Moon are pretty close right now.
Great. Now I’ve got that song stuck in my mind.
Ear worm....
I love the 5th Dimension, esp My Blue Balloon, take a ride
ya .... so?
Great song! Great video!
It has been a interesting site seeing the moon and Jupiter then Saturn and Venus in a row every evening with the moon changing it’s location.
We’re so overcast here these past few days I’m hoping I’ll get to view it.
Oh, Aquarius, I always thought that was ‘aquariums’... /j
My God Marilyn was so gorgeous.
Mostly overcast for us until Sunday night.
As usual when something exciting happens in the night sky.
Boo!
I just showed this post and the 5D snip to mrs. jimfree. She is now playing the online video. We will be hearing it all day I’m sure.
The sky tonight, west of Boston shortly after sunset, barring clouds.
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