A Nice Sky To End 2023

Fall is finished! Winter begins at 10:27 p.m. on December 21. This is the winter solstice when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere. Our first day of winter is Australia’s first day of summer!

Our earliest sunset of the year happened on December 7. The latest sunrise occurs on January 7. Each day whenever possible, take notice of where the Sun rises in the southeast. The sun rises a little more toward the north each day until June 21.

The waxing Moon brightens each evening until Full Moon occurs on December 26. If the sky is clear, the Moon adds a nice touch to the holiday lights.

Watch the Moon pass above Jupiter between December 21 and 22. On December 23, The Moon is above and right of the Pleiades or Seven Sisters star cluster. Use binoculars to explore the area but be aware that the Moon is bright in binoculars.

The great winter constellation Orion the Hunter is well above the eastern horizon by 8 p.m. Look for the three bright stars in his belt standing close in a vertical line. With binoculars, sweep right and down from the lowest star to the fuzzy spot. This is the Orion Nebula or M-42 where new stars and planets are forming.

By 9 p.m., one sees a very bright dot low in the southeast. This is the star Sirius and it is the brightest star in the sky. Only the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter are brighter. Many people think this is the Christmas Star. Sirius was not what the Wise Men followed. Nevertheless, it is a nice addition to the Christmas Season.

Rise before 6 a.m. this week to see bright Venus low in the southeast. Venus is right in the middle of the four stars of the constellation Libra the Scales. The two stars above Venus have the best star names: Zubenelgenubi and Zubeneschamali!

Now is the best time to see Venus. It appears a little lower each day at sunrise.

Have a wonderful and safe Holiday!

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