Four Planetary Presents

Four planets are visible this month, if you know when and where to look. The easiest to find is Jupiter, high in the south after sunset. By the end of the month Jupiter will set in the west by 9pm. It will outshine everything in the early evening sky except for the Moon. Jupiter will appear near a pretty crescent Moon on the evenings of December 20 and 21.

If you’re not sure you’re looking at Jupiter, watch carefully to see if it twinkles. As a general rule, stars twinkle but planets won’t. Binoculars and a steady hand can reveal up to four of Jupiter’s largest moons. Meanwhile, Mercury is briefly visible low in the west sky right after sunset. The best night to catch Mercury is the 18th when it will appear as a bright star below and to the right of the crescent Moon. Binoculars should make it easier to spot.

Stay up a little later to catch a glimpse of the red planet Mars. Just west of the constellation Leo the Lion, Mars rises above the eastern horizon about 10:00pm at the beginning of the month, but you’ll need to wait a little while for it to clear trees or buildings that might block your view.

Every night Mars rises a little earlier, so that by the end of the month, it will rise before 8:00pm. Right now, Mars is getting brighter by the day, as Earth is passes it in its orbit. The closest approach between the two planets will be January 29th at a distance of 61 million miles (98 million kilometers).

To get that last present, you’ll have to stay up late. Saturn, in the constellation of Virgo the maiden doesn’t rise until after midnight.

Don’t forget to look for some constellations while you’re out! The bright constellations of winter are coming into easy view – look for Orion the hunter, and his neighbors Taurus the Bull, Gemini the twins, and Canis Major the Big Dog. All of these contain bright stars that stand out, even under moderately light polluted skies.

Shooting Star Stocking Stuffers

They may look like stars shooting across the sky, but meteors are actually tiny bits of solar system debris incinerated as they slam into Earth’s atmosphere. The average meteor burns up between 60 and 100 miles above the ground.

This year’s Geminid Meteor Shower peaks on December 14. Typical estimates are that one could see as many as 50 meteors per hour under a clear, dark sky. The Moon will be new that night, so moonlight won’t interfere.

Our usual recommendation is to watch for meteors between midnight and dawn, but the Geminids are an exception to that rule. You won’t have to stay up late – 9:00 PM should be a good time to start. Find a dark location away from city lights and face east for the best view.

Blue Moon New Year's Eve

Look at the front of the star chart, and you’ll notice that this month has two Full Moons. When this occurs, the second Full Moon is sometimes called a “Blue Moon.” Statistically, there are two full Moons in a single month once every 2.72 years, but there have been occasions when two blue moon months occur in the same year.

Mars, Updated

Mars Update is our newest program offered in the Sudekum Planetarium. The show begins with a brief history of how our understanding of Mars has changed in the last 150 years.

Then, we’ll show you where to find Mars in the current night sky and present the latest news from the red planet, courtesy of the spacecraft stationed in orbit and on the surface. During the show you’ll hear a quote from a famous 19th century astronomer doubting the existence of canals on Mars, which other astronomers of the time claimed to see. That astronomer was Nashville native Edward Emerson Barnard.

E. E. Barnard worked his way out of poverty to become one of the most productive astronomers of his day. He photographed the Milky Way in great detail and discovered around thirty comets. He is also credited with determining the next nearest star to our Sun past the Alpha Centauri system, now known as Barnard’s Star.

To explore Mars on your own and learn more about E. E. Barnard, visit our home page and click on “learn”. Then follow the link to our Mars Update page.

Upcoming Star Parties

The next two FREE public star parties are Saturday, December 12 and Saturday, January 23, 2010. Both last from 7:30-9:30 PM and will be held at the special events field in Edwin Warner Park. Members of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will be on hand with telescopes to provide you with a close up view of the night sky. It will be cold, so dress warmly!

If the weather is clouty or worse the star party may be cancelled. If the weather is questionable, visit our web site or call AstroLine at (615) 401-5092 before leaving home.

How to Use Your New Astronomy Toys

So you got an astronomy gift for Christmas. Now what? The January meeting of the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society will feature several local amateur astronomers who can help make the most of your new astronomy gadget.