{"id":212136,"date":"2025-12-26T16:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T16:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/212136\/"},"modified":"2025-12-26T16:39:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T16:39:11","slug":"see-the-moon-shine-with-saturn-in-the-southern-sky-after-sunset-dec-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/212136\/","title":{"rendered":"See the moon shine with Saturn in the southern sky after sunset Dec. 26"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Celestron NexStar 8SE<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onajYkhMdBFzBAJKyo4JpC.jpg\" alt=\"Celestron NexStar 8SE\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onajYkhMdBFzBAJKyo4JpC.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onajYkhMdBFzBAJKyo4JpC.jpg\" class=\"pinterest-pin-exclude pinterest-pin-exclude pinterest-pin-exclude\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: Amazon)<\/p>\n<p class=\"fancy-box__body-text\">We reckon the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB000GUFOC8%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B000GUFOC81706720400000%3Fth%3D1%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dspace-us-8956980322419663171-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener nofollow\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B000GUFOC8\/ref=asc_df_B000GUFOC81706720400000?th=1\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"hawklinks\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\" data-placeholder-url=\"https:\/\/target.georiot.com\/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&amp;GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB000GUFOC8%2Fref%3Dasc_df_B000GUFOC81706720400000%3Fth%3D1%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20\" data-merchant-name=\"Amazon US\" data-merchant-id=\"1471\" data-merchant-network=\"Amazonus\" data-merchant-url=\"amazon.com\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\">Celestron NexStar 8SE<\/a> is the best motorized telescope out there as it&#8217;s great for astrophotography, deep-space observing and it offers stunning detailed imagery. It is a little pricey but for what you get, it&#8217;s good value. For a more detailed look, you can check out our <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/celestron-nexstar-8se-telescope-review\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/celestron-nexstar-8se-telescope-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Celestron NexStar 8SE review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"b3c43065-a0a0-4c36-932d-be33af50a555\">Look to the southern sky after dark on Dec. 26 to spot the waxing crescent moon shining near the gas giant Saturn among the stars of the constellation Pisces.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The 48%-lit <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/55-earths-moon-formation-composition-and-orbit.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">moon<\/a> will appear roughly halfway up the southern sky in the hours following sunset. <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/48-saturn-the-solar-systems-major-ring-bearer.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/48-saturn-the-solar-systems-major-ring-bearer.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Saturn<\/a> will show up as a brilliant star less than four degrees to the lower left of the lunar disk. For scale, your three middle fingers held at arm&#8217;s length span about five degrees of sky.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"b3c43065-a0a0-4c36-932d-be33af50a555-2\">A pair of 10&#215;50 binoculars should easily fit both Saturn and the moon within the same field of view, while revealing an assortment of fascinating surface features on <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Earth<\/a>&#8216;s natural satellite, which will appear almost half-lit just one day shy of its first quarter phase on Dec. 27.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p id=\"b2574b62-9623-4662-a311-44f346fb5e50\">Look to the upper region of the lunar crescent to find the menacing form of the Aristotles crater with its eastern rim bathed in impenetrable shadow. The Eudoxus crater is visible just beneath and beyond the dark expanses of Mare Serenitatis (the Sea of Serenity) and Mare Tranquilitatis (the Sea of Tranquility), which served as the landing site of the historic <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16758-apollo-11-first-moon-landing.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16758-apollo-11-first-moon-landing.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apollo 11<\/a> lunar landing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.26%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MebjsF7WjPthZmLqjHbrAV.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of the moon with its right half lit against a black sky, with labels showing the positions of lunar seas and prominent craters.\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MebjsF7WjPthZmLqjHbrAV.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MebjsF7WjPthZmLqjHbrAV.jpg\" class=\"inline expandable\"\/><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MebjsF7WjPthZmLqjHbrAV.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"expand-button icon-expand-image icon\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/MebjsF7WjPthZmLqjHbrAV.jpg\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"><\/p>\n<p>The moon pictured shortly before its first quarter phase. (Image credit: Photo by Rick Kern via Getty Images, annotated by Anthony Wood in Canva)<\/p>\n<p id=\"fc9efe0a-0582-481b-b665-1561ab36b083\">A telescope with a 6-inch (152 millimeter) aperture will begin to reveal the razor-thin profile of Saturn&#8217;s rings, as they rest oriented edge-on to Earth following the gas giant&#8217;s ring <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/stargazing\/saturns-iconic-rings-will-disappear-this-weekend-heres-why\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/stargazing\/saturns-iconic-rings-will-disappear-this-weekend-heres-why\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">plane crossing in March<\/a>. Astronomy filters can also aid in revealing details in Saturn&#8217;s upper atmosphere, which appears divided into distinct multi-colored cloud bands that circle the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/30372-gas-giants.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/30372-gas-giants.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">gas giant<\/a> at 1,600 feet (500 meters) per second.<\/p>\n<p>Want to get a closer look at the diverse menagerie of worlds populating our <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16080-solar-system-planets.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/16080-solar-system-planets.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">solar system<\/a>? Then be sure to browse our picks of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/15693-telescopes-beginners-telescope-reviews-buying-guide.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best telescopes<\/a> for exploring the night sky, along with our guides to picking the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-cameras-for-astrophotography\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-cameras-for-astrophotography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best cameras<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-lenses-for-astrophotography\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/best-lenses-for-astrophotography\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lenses for astrophotography<\/a>, if you want to immortalize your stargazing sessions.<\/p>\n<p>Editor&#8217;s Note: If you capture an image of the moon with Saturn and want to share it with Space.com&#8217;s readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. <\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Celestron NexStar 8SE (Image credit: Amazon) We reckon the Celestron NexStar 8SE is the best motorized telescope out&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":212137,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[61,60,82,247],"class_list":{"0":"post-212136","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-space","8":"tag-ie","9":"tag-ireland","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-space"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=212136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/212136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/212137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=212136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=212136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=212136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}