{"id":38144,"date":"2022-11-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=38144"},"modified":"2022-11-25T12:40:19","modified_gmt":"2022-11-25T12:40:19","slug":"december-highlights-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2022\/11\/11\/december-highlights-2\/","title":{"rendered":"December highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your guide to the night sky this month <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 1<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The planet Mars is closest to Earth today, presenting its largest apparent disc size of 17.2 arcseconds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This evening\u2019s 54%-lit waxing gibbous Moon sits 3.8\u00b0 west-southwest of mag. \u20132.4 Jupiter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sunday<\/strong> 4<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As midnight approaches tonight and into the morning of 5 December, our Moonwatch target<\/a>, the 85km-diameter crater Mersenius will be revealed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Monday 5 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Moon occults Uranus<\/span> <\/strong>between 16:50 UT and 17:21 UT. Times correct for the centre of the UK and will vary slightly depending upon your location. <\/span>For more details, see The Big Three<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 8 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The planet Mars is occulted by the full Moon. Disappearance occurs at 04:57 UT, with reappearance at 05:57 UT.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mars reaches opposition at 05:36 UT. Read more here: The Big Three<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 14 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The annual Geminid meteor shower<\/span> reaches peak activity around 13:00 UT. The night of 13\/14 December presents the best opportunity for seeing a Geminid meteor, but a bright waning gibbous Moon will interfere.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 15 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The giant moon Ganymede transits<\/span> the planet Jupiter between 19:02 UT and 22:02 UT.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 18 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Moon<\/span> rises just before 02:00 UT, making this a good time to start observing our Deep-Sky Tour<\/a>. This month we\u2019re looking at objects in and around western Aries.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 20 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With dark<\/span> s<\/strong>kies as the Moon approaches its new phase, the magnificent constellation of Orion is well-presented for viewing around midnight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 21 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mercury reaches greatest eastern<\/span> elongation (20.1\u00b0), the mag. \u20130.4 planet visible above the southwest horizon shortly after sunset.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today is the winter solstice and the longest night of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 22 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

With a new<\/span> Moon tomorrow, this year\u2019s Ursid meteor shower is favourable, peaking around 22:00 UT.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ganymede transits Jupiter just before it sets. View from 23:05 UT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday 23 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ninth-magnitude<\/span> c<\/strong>omet C\/2020 V2 ZTF is just 4\u00b0 from Polaris this evening.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday 24 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Mag. \u20130.3 Mercury<\/span> \u20133.8 Venus and a slender 2%-lit waxing crescent Moon form an attractive triangle, visible shortly after sunset low above the southwest horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday 25 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A treat for Christmas:<\/span> comet C\/2022 E3 ZTF is predicted to be viewable with binoculars, reaching mag. +8.0 today. The comet is currently inside the semi-circular constellation of Corona Borealis.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday 26 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This evening\u2019s<\/span> 15%-lit waxing crescent Moon lies 4.5\u00b0 south of mag. +0.9 Saturn.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday 29 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This evening\u2019s<\/span> 48%-lit waxing crescent Moon is 5.4\u00b0 east of mag. \u20132.2 Jupiter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just after sunset, mag. +0.6 Mercury appears 1.5\u00b0 from mag. \u20133.8 Venus, low above the southwest horizon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday 30 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

This<\/span> e<\/strong>vening\u2019s first quarter Moon will exhibit the popular clair-obscur effects known as the Lunar X and V. Peak visibility is around 21:00 UT.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday 31 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As the New Year<\/span> approaches, bright Mars sits north of the Hyades open cluster, 8\u00b0 north of mag. +0.8 Aldebaran (Alpha (\u03b1) Tauri). It is also located 9\u00b0 east of the Pleiades.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
Family stargazing <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Mars is getting bright and really easy to pick out in the night sky as it gets close to opposition on 8 December. Describe it as a bright, orange light in the sky and let your young astronomers try to find it for themselves. Its brilliance is a bit of a giveaway, but the colour is interesting too. Ask how you\u2019d describe the colour. Mars only reaches this brilliance every two-and-a-bit years, due to the way both Earth and Mars orbit the Sun, so explain that this is a special time for the planet. If you have a telescope, take a look and ask what, if anything, can be seen. bbc.co.uk\/cbeebies\/shows\/stargazing<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

NEED TO<\/strong> KNOW<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The terms and symbols used in The Sky Guide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST)<\/strong>
Universal Time (UT) is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. British Summer Time (BST) is one hour ahead of UT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RA (Right ascension) and dec. (declination)<\/strong>
These coordinates are the night sky\u2019s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial \u2018globe\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naked eye<\/strong>
Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo opp<\/strong>
Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Binoculars<\/strong>
10×50 recommended<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small\/ medium scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT over 6 inches, refractor over 4 inches<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
GETTING STARTED<\/strong> IN ASTRONOMY<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re new to astronomy, you\u2019ll find two essential reads on our website. Visit http:\/\/bit.ly\/10_easylessons<\/a> <\/strong>for our 10-step guide to getting started and http:\/\/bit.ly\/buy_scope<\/a> <\/strong>for advice on choosing a scope<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n

PHOTOS: PETE LAWRENCE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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