December for lovers of astronomy is highlighted by the Geminids meteor shower, as Greg Redern highlights in December’s edition of “Eyes to the Skies.”<\/p>\n
\u201cEyes to the Skies\u201d is a recurring feature and publishes on the first of every month. You can find it on WTOP\u2019s The Space Place<\/a>. Email Greg your space questions and he might answer them in the next edition.<\/p>\n Welcome to WTOP\u2019s monthly feature, with a new name: \u201cEyes to the Skies.\u201d Each month will feature the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space related events around the D.C. area that might interest you will be included as well.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s get to the sky for December!<\/p>\n Must-see sky sights for December<\/p>\n The winter constellations Star of the month<\/p>\n In December, be on the lookout for bright, orange colored Aldebaran, the \u201cfiery eye of Taurus the Bull<\/a>.\u201d Look for it right after it gets dark in the east. Aldebaran is easy to spot among the stars of the Hyades star cluster<\/a> that forms a distinct and easily visible \u201cV\u201d in the sky.<\/p>\n Directly above the bull\u2019s angry eye is the beautiful Pleiades star cluster, also known as the \u201cSeven Sisters<\/a>.\u201d These young stars form a little dipper, which some people mistake for the real \u201cLittle Dipper<\/a>,\u201d or Ursa Minor.<\/p>\n If you have binoculars, the Pleiades are worth observing. The star cluster also has a stunning dust cloud between it and Earth, which can be seen in long exposure photos. Taurus the Bull makes for a very nice smartphone pic.<\/p>\n Highlights of the month<\/p>\n As December begins, the bright constellations and stars of winter<\/a> begin to rise as soon as it gets dark. As the night progresses, the \u201cbest and brightest\u201d are high in the east at 11 p.m. Bright Jupiter adds to their splendor. By month\u2019s end, you can see them well above the eastern horizon at 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n This happens because<\/a> our planet moves around the sun \u201cby approximately one degree a day and at the same time is completing one rotation every 23 hours and 56 minutes,\u201d according to BBC\u2019s Sky at Night Magazine.<\/p>\n Dec. 3 \u2014 After it gets dark, the bright almost full moon passes through the Pleiades star cluster covering (occulting) some of the stars. Binoculars will enhance the view, but it will be difficult to view due to the brilliant moon.<\/p>\n Dec. 4 \u2014 The full cold supermoon occurs 6:14 p.m. You can also use this website<\/a> to determine moonrise for your location. This is the third full supermoon<\/a> in a row\u00a0and the last full moon for 2025.<\/p>\n Dec. 9 \u2014 The waning gibbous moon rises very, very close to the star Regulus in the east at 10:30 p.m. The two move closer together until just after midnight. Binoculars will enhance the view greatly.<\/p>\n Dec. 13-14, all night \u2014 The Geminids meteor shower<\/a> has very favorable viewing conditions, i.e. the moon will not be a major detractor. Bundle up, get a warm drink and gather some friends to enjoy this sky sight.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 \u2014 If you are up for the Geminids, a must see in the predawn sky in the east is the waning crescent moon with probable earthshine\u00a0joining up with the star Spica at just two degrees apart. Try taking a smartphone\/camera pic.<\/p>\n Dec. 14 \u2014 Remember our star of the month in October<\/a>, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 10:39 p.m., and then getting brighter. See the other dates this month below. Try taking a smartphone\/camera pic.<\/p>\n Dec. 17 \u2014 Algol at 10:28 p.m.<\/p>\n Dec. 20 \u2014 Algol again, but earlier, at 7:17 p.m.<\/p>\n Dec. 21 \u2014 Winter solstice at 10:03 a.m.<\/a>\u00a0heralds the start of winter and the longest night of the year.<\/p>\n The moon<\/p>\n Dec. 4 \u2014 Full cold supermoon (third full supermoon in a row)<\/p>\n Dec. 11 \u2014 Last quarter<\/p>\n Dec. 20 \u2014\u00a0New moon<\/p>\n Dec. 27 \u2014 First quarter<\/p>\n Planets<\/p>\n Mercury is favorable for Northern Hemisphere viewers before dawn in the east at the beginning of the month until Christmas Day.<\/p>\n Venus is in the glare of the sun, as is Mars.<\/p>\n Jupiter rises in the northeast after dark and is quite bright.<\/p>\n Saturn is high in the southwest after dark, a great view in a telescope as the rings cast a thin line across the planet.<\/p>\n Uranus<\/a> is in the eastern sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet, although it is visible with binoculars.<\/p>\n Neptune<\/a> is in the east as it gets dark. You need a telescope to observe the planet.<\/p>\n Pluto<\/a>\u00a0is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope spaced days apart to hunt it down.<\/p>\n DC-area events<\/p>\n Bonus section<\/p>\n Download NASA\u2019s 2025 science calendar<\/a>, which features out of this world pictures and information.<\/p>\n The Planetary Society\u2019s calendar<\/a>\u00a0is another resource for tracking space missions.<\/p>\n Use this useful tool<\/a> to create a custom star chart\u00a0for your location to help you find your way around the stars.<\/p>\n You can also send in any space-related questions to my email address. Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.<\/p>\n Follow\u00a0my daily blog<\/a>\u00a0to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at\u00a0skyguyinva@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nGeminids meteor shower the night of Dec. 13-14.<\/p>\n