Mercury

Mercury is visible in early December low in the western sky just after sunset shining at magnitude -0.4, after Dec. 11 it has faded to magnitude 0 and continues to fade while dropping back towards the sun, reaching inferior conjunction on Dec. 22.

Venus

Brilliant Venus shines at magnitude -4.1 and rises in the east around 4 AM. It is in Virgo, 4.5° northeast of Spica in early December. On Dec. 11 it enters Libra passing 2° north of the star Zubenelgenubi.

Mars

Mars is too close to the Sun to be observed in December.

Jupiter

Jupiter is in Ares the Ram and is visible nearly all night long. You won’t miss the giant planet as it shines brightly at magnitude -2.8 to -2.6 at months end. Explore Jupiter with binoculars while steading yourself against a car roof or tree trunk and you’ll see the four Galilean moons, watch for several nights and you’ll notice they move from night to night, back and fourth as they orbit the planet.

Saturn

Saturn is in Aquarius and is visible in the early evening sky low in the southwestern sky. Shining at magnitude 0.8-0.9 it is the brightest object in that part of the sky and has a slightly yellowish tinge of color.

Uranus

Uranus is midway between Jupiter and the Pleiades star cluster. You should be able to find this greenish-blue colored planet with binoculars by scanning between the two famous landmarks mentioned above.

Neptune

Neptune is shining at magnitude 7.7, while it is a challenge to find, it is visible throughout the evening hours. It is on the border between Aquarius and Pisces, just south of the circlet asterism or western fish. You’ll find Neptune 5° due south of Lambda Piscium which shines at magnitude 4.5. It will have a slight bluish color. It’s currently 2.8 billion miles from Earth.

Moon

Dec. 26 Full Moon

Dec. 5 Last Quarter

Dec. 12 New Moon

Dec. 19 First Quarter

Sun

There has been significant sunspot activity this fall, producing a few aurora sightings here in Maine. To see an aurora watch for faint glows of color low in the northern skies after dark. If you look up auroral activity online you’ll find an activity scale called the Kp scale. We need a Kp Scale rating of 6 or higher for aurora to be readily seen in Maine.

To observe the sun and sunspots you need solar filters like you’d use to observe an eclipse. Never look directly at the Sun and never point a telescope at the Sun without the proper solar filters. You will permanently damage your eyes instantly.

Comets

There are currently no bright comets that can easily be seen.

Meteor Showers

• Geminids Active Dec. 4-17, peaking on Dec.14-15. The Geminids are perhaps the largest meteor shower of the year averaging 50-100 meteors per hour. We have favorable viewing this year as the shower occurs near the New Moon.

• Ursids Active Dec. 17-26, peaking on Dec. 22. This is not as prolific a shower as the Geminids, producing an average of 10 meteors per hour. This year it will also compete with a nearly full moon.

Seasonal Star Charts