Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, December 23th and 24th, written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, December 23th and 24th, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 4:26 PM; night falls at 6:08. Dawn begins at 5:42 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:24. Note that, now we have passed Solstice, days are becoming slightly longer.
The Moon resides in Virgo on both nights. Monday’s rises at 12:13 AM, by 6 AM it is 43° high in the Northwest, 29 arc-minutes in size, 45% illuminated and sets at 12:04 AM. Tuesday’s southern Moon rises at 1:14 AM, 36° high, same size and sets at 12:22 PM. Tuesday, before sunrise, finds the Moon 3° above the bright star Spica. Wednesday’s Moon rises at 2:17 AM.
Venus, the first to be seen, in southwestern Capricornus, lies close to the western horizon, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, 20 arc-seconds, rose at 10:16 AM, by 7 PM it is 10° high, 59% lit and sets at 8:04 PM.
Saturn, in southwest Aquarius, rises at 11:18 AM, shines with 1st magnitude, a moderate 17 arc-seconds, 30° high and sets at 10:19 PM. Neptune is 13° East of Saturn, in southwestern Pisces, rises at 11:44 AM, glimmers with 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, 41° highest at 5:34 and sets at 11:28 PM.
Eastern Taurus presents Uranus and Jupiter. Uranus rises at 1:57 PM, 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 65° highest at 9:08 PM and sets at 4:26 AM; it might be possible to see Uranus with eyes alone. Giant Jupiter rises at 3:07 PM, minus 2nd magnitude, a large 47 arc-seconds, 69° highest a 10:33 PM and sets at 6:03 AM. Monday presents 2 shadows at 2:47 AM; Io begins an occultation (eclipse) at 11:43 PM and ends at 2:20 AM. The Great Red Spot ( a giant storm) begins on Tuesday at 12:27 AM. Io starts a trip at 8:50 PM and concludes at 11:01PM while its shadow occurs at 9:11 PM and closes at 11:29 PM.
Mars continues to enlarge and brighten; rises in northeastern Cancer, flashes with minus 1st magnitude, 13 arc-seconds, rises at 6:40 PM, 69° highest, 97% lit and sets at 9:45 AM.
Elusive Mercury makes appears in southeastern Ophiuchus; it rises at 5:35 AM, glows with minus zero magnitude, 7 arc-seconds, by 6 AM it is 3° high, 62% lit and sets at 3:15 PM.
Saturn is the main feature of tonight’s 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, similar to the “Santa hats” of today. 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 holiday 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.
The Dudley Observatory and Albany Amateur Astronomers wish their followers Happy Holidays.