Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, December 9th and 10th, written by Joe Slomka

This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, December 9th and 10th, written by Joe Slomka.

The Sun sets at 4:21 PM; night falls at 6:03. Dawn begins at 5:34 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:16.

Pisces presents the Moon on both nights. Monday’s waxing gibbous Moon rises at 12:46 PM, by 8 PM it is 47° high in the South, appears 33 arc-seconds in size, 65% illuminated and sets at 12:14 AM, Tuesday’s northwestern Moon rises at 1:08 PM, same size, 76% lit, 53° at 9 PM and sets at 1:29 AM.

Comet C/2023 AM is still visible in Aquila, but though telescopes; it rises at 7:38 AM, 10th magnitude, 95% lit, 14° high in the West and sets at 8:19 PM.

Venus, in southwestern Capricornus, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, appears 18 arc-seconds in size, rises at 10:28 AM, 5° high at 7 PM and sets at 7:39 PM. Those with large telescopes can find Pluto 3° to the west, a dim 14th magnitude, 3° high and sets at 7:22 PM.

Southwestern Saturn, 14° to Venus’ East in Aquarius, rises at 12:12 PM, highest at 5:39 PM, 1st magnitude, 17 arc-seconds, 35° high and sets at 11:10 PM. Neptune lies 8° from Monday’s Moon, rises in Pisces at 12:39 PM, highest at 6:39 PM, sets at 12:21 AM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds and 44° high at 7 PM.

Eastern Taurus shares Uranus and Jupiter. Uranus rises at 2:54 PM, shines with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 66° highest at 10:05 PM and sets at 5:20 AM. Giant Jupiter rises at 4:09 PM, glimmers with minus 2nd magnitude, 48 arc-seconds, 68° highest at 11:36 PM and sets at 7:06 AM; Monday the Jovian moon Io begins an occultation (eclipse) at 8:15 and ends at 10:31 PM; the Great Red Spot begins its travels at 10:55 PM. Tuesday also exhibits the Great Red Spot at 4:42 AM.

Mars rises in Cancer at 7:48 PM, glows with minus 1st magnitude, 12 arc-seconds, by Midnight it is 44° high, 94% lit, 68° highest at 3:17 AM and sets at 10:42 AM.

Every history student knows that December 7th marks the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Few are aware of the date’s astronomical significance. The Japanese high command chose that date because the eighteen-day-old Moon rose before midnight and shone at 87 percent, permitting planes to launch during darkness and fly to their targets. The Moon almost helped foil the surprise raid. The Condor, an American minesweeper spotted a submarine periscope silhouetted against moonlight. The Condor summoned the Ward, a destroyer, who attacked a second submarine and radioed the incident to headquarters. That report was not heeded. Had that information been acted upon, the American fleet would have had at least an hour and a half to prepare.

Clear Skies Joe Slomka