Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday December 18th and 19th, 2023
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday December 18th and 19th, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 4:23 PM; night falls at 6:06. Dawn breaks at 5:39 AM and ends with sunrise at 7:22.
Monday’s Moon rises in Aquarius at 11:46 AM, by 6 PM it is 37° high in the Southwest, appears 32 arc-minutes in size, 41% illuminated and sets at 11:03 PM. Tuesday’s First Quarter Moon moves to Pisces, 44° high in the South, slightly smaller, 52% lit and sets at 12:17 AM on Wednesday.
Like last week, all the planets rose during daytime, with the exception of Venus. Mercury is too close to the Sun and so is Mars. Saturn is the first visible planet, rising in Aquarius, 14° from the Moon, shining with zero magnitude, 16 arc-seconds, highest at 4:24 PM, 24° high at 7 PM and sets at 9:37 PM. Neptune lies 9° away from the Moon, glimmers with 8th magnitude, tiny 2 arc-seconds, highest at 5:48 PM, 41° and sets at 11:35 PM.
Jupiter and Uranus share Aries. Southern Jupiter is the main attraction, simmering with minus 2nd magnitude, a large 48 arc-seconds, 54° high at 7 PM, 59° highest at 8:20 and sets at 3:09 AM. Tuesday, the Jovian moon Ganymede begins its eclipse at 10:53 PM and ends at 12:50 AM, Wednesday. Europa begins a series of events at 11:02 PM and ends at 3:27 AM, Wednesday. Io has an eclipse at 1:12 AM, also Wednesday. Southern Neptune lies 14° behind Jupiter, it glistens with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 52° at 7 PM, 64° highest at 11:14 and sets at 4:24 AM.
Venus brings up the rear in southeastern Libra, blazing with minus 4th magnitude, 15 arc-seconds, rises at 4 AM, 18° at 6 AM and sets in the afternoon.
Eastern asteroid 4Vesta is now in Orion, rises at 4:43 PM, highest at 12:11 AM and sets at 7:34 AM. The Minor Planet glows with 6th magnitude and appears 0.4 arc-seconds and 23° high.
For those who plan ahead, famous Halley’s Comet reaches Aphelion (most distant from the Sun). From now on, it slowly approaches the Sun and Earth and will be best seen in July 2061.
Since Saturn is a feature of the night sky. Let us consider his importance. This time of the year was dedicated to Saturn, the Roman God of Harvests. A series of feasts were held during the week of the Winter Solstice – the Saturnalia. Saturn was depicted as a jolly old man. People decorated evergreen trees. Candles were lit everywhere. Houses were decorated with wreaths and Holly. Decorated cookies were baked. People wore red peaked hats. Banquets were held both in honor of the harvest and wishing for a prosperous new year. Gifts were exchanged: dolls for children, candles and fruits for adults. Donations and benefits were held for the poor. Saturnalia was an official government holiday. The festival was so popular that Christians moved the feast of Christ’s birth to compete and adopted many of the symbols and traditions of this pagan feast.
Peace