Posted on 12/09/2021 8:20:20 PM PST by BenLurkin
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus have lined up in the evening sky and will continue to be prominent features throughout most of December, but this week, the trio will get a visitor.
The easy-to-find planets, paired with the approaching peak of the Geminid meteor shower, make December a great month for evening stargazing. The only caveat is that the weather can be fickle during the long December nights, often offering frosty conditions on nights that are not cloudy.
The moon started off the week next to Venus, and as the week progresses, it will continue to move up the chain, passing by Saturn and Jupiter. These close encounters will be great opportunities for photographers and stargazers with a telescope hoping to see a planet and the moon in the same field of view.
By Friday evening, the moon will be at the top of the line, appearing in the southwestern sky shortly after nightfall.
The only thing that is needed to enjoy the show is cloud-free weather, but using a telescope or pair of binoculars can reveal some of the bigger moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
Hope they heal the Dark Crystal in time...
The Skeksis have been in control for too long. :P
Now just wait a rootin tootin second here cowboys.
The planets (other than Mercury are ALWAYS in a line. They all stay pretty close to the Ecliptic. Mercury’s declination is noticeable off.
AS is the Moon. Right now, it’s 5 deg south of the Ecliptic.
That’s enough to be noticeable too.
Now if the Moon were ocluding Jupiter or Saturn, THAT would be a line.
Was waiting for that
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