Busy week for stargazers
It's not hard to tell what time of year it is. If your house is anything like mine, the children (and especially the grandchildren) are so wound up about Christmas, they can hardly sit still for longer than two minutes.
I can tell the festive season is upon us once again by the number of emails I get from my readers regarding what size/type/model telescope to buy for the budding astronomer in their family.
Each year (and this one will be no different) I answer, "Do not buy them a telescope!"
Unless your budding astronomer is A. very committed to viewing the night sky, B. technically inclined, and C. extremely patient, a telescope will end up gathering dust in the attic or garage. Good quality scopes are not cheap (several hundred to thousands of dollars just for the scope, then there's the lenses, filters, etc.), and the cheap ones are ultimately a disappointment for all concerned.
I strongly recommend that, instead of a telescope, you buy them a good set of binoculars (7x35s if they are small, or, if they are a bit bigger, 10x50s). Both www.astronomy.com and https://skyandtelescope. org have excellent articles on selecting and buying the right binoculars.
Also, buy them a planisphere (a plastic wheel device that shows the constellations of the night sky at any hour, night, and month of the year), as well as a good, basic introductory book on astronomy and the night sky (suitable for their age) with star charts, constellation diagrams, double stars, the planets, a map of the moon, etc. You can find these items at your local bookstore or online.
An astronomer's flashlight with a red light (check online) is also helpful so you can reference the planisphere/star chart/book while outdoors (the red light will save your night vision).
Before heading outdoors, make a list of what they might want to look for (it's a lot easier to do in the warmth of your house than out in the dark). With the planisphere/ star charts, go outside on a clear night and look upwards.
As celestial objects are found (it can be a fun challenge), cross them off the list, and, later, make plans to go out another night and look for something different. You'll be surprised at the number of amazing things that can be seen in the night sky with a good pair of binoculars, and even with just your eyes.
If, and when, enthusiasm grows, and you want to see more distant celestial objects (nebula, galaxies, globular clusters, etc.), then perhaps consider buying a telescope. Until then, the greatest gift (and the one they'll remember the most) is your time and an interest in their interest.
GREAT CONJUNCTION
On Monday, the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was visible just above the western horizon. If you missed it, or the skies were cloudy, there's still a chance to observe. Although these two giant planets were at their closest at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, they will remain fairly close to one another low in the post-sunset western sky until Christmas Day.
Hopefully, there will be at least one clear evening! Weather permitting, my granddaughter Scarlet and I will be out together to view it. When I told her about the conjunction, and how rare it was, and how the next one wouldn't be for another 60 years in 2080 (after I am long gone), she wanted to see it with me, so that when she is old and has grandchildren of her own, she can take them out and show them the conjunction, and tell them about when she and their greatgreat-grandfather, Poppy, saw the great conjunction of 2020 together. I hope you are as blessed with grandchildren as I am.
THIS WEEK'S SKY
Mercury, having reached superior solar conjunction on the 19th, remains too close to the sun to be seen.
Venus (magnitude -3.94) is visible around 6:30 a.m. in the eastern, pre-dawn sky, remaining observable 11 degrees above the southeast horizon until it fades from view as dawn breaks around 7:30 a.m.
Mars (magnitude -0.50) becomes accessible around 5 p.m., 40 degrees above the southeast horizon, reaching a height of 53 degrees by 7:30 p.m., and remaining visible until it drops below nine degrees above the western horizon by about 1:25 a.m.
Jupiter (magnitude -1.98) and Saturn (magnitude +0.64) are visible low above the western horizon (see reference to the great conjunction above) just after sunset on Monday and remain so until Christmas Day. If the weather is clear, don't miss this rare celestial event and take a photo with your cellphone or camera.
METEOR SHOWER
The Ursid meteor shower (radiant just above the bowl of the Little Dipper asterism in the constellation of Ursa Minor — the Little Bear) peaks overnight Dec. 21-22.
The Ursids are debris from Comet 8P/Tuttle, discovered Jan. 5, 1858. The first quarter moon will set shortly before midnight, so will not interfere.
Expect to see 10+ bright meteors per hour from a dark site away from city lights. Though not a spectacular shower, it is my favourite of the year, as it occurs on my birthday. I have successfully seen some Ursids on 48 of my 72 past birthdays, and, weather permitting, will make it 49.
The Winter Solstice (winter's official start here in the northern hemisphere) occurred at 6:02 a.m. on Monday, the shortest day and longest night of the year for us.
I wish you all a very merry festive holiday with your loved ones. Remember, there is no greater gift we can give than the time we spend together with our families.
Until next week, clear skies.
EVENT
Dec. 24 — Moon at apogee
Glenn K. Roberts lives in Stratford, P.E.I., and has been an avid amateur astronomer since he was a small child. His column, Atlantic Skies, appears every two weeks.