Dec. 27: Northern Cross
Look to the northwest shortly after sunset for the Northern
Cross, a grouping of stars also known as Cygnus, the swan. As it
sets, a couple of hours after sunset, the cross appears to stand
upright, as though it were anchored to the horizon.
By The University of Texas McDonald Observatory Online
Dec. 27: Northern Cross
Look to the northwest shortly after sunset for the Northern Cross, a grouping of stars also known as Cygnus, the swan. As it sets, a couple of hours after sunset, the cross appears to stand upright, as though it were anchored to the horizon.
Dec. 28: Winter’s Hunter
The great hunter Orion roams across winter’s evening skies. The constellation is in view in the east by around 7 or 8pm, and climbs across the south during the night. Look for Orion’s Belt – a short line of three stars at the center of the constellation.
Dec. 29: Double Cluster
Two beautiful star clusters stand side by side, high overhead this evening. The clusters are at the northwestern corner of the constellation Perseus. Together, they are known as the double cluster. Binoculars or a telescope will reveal dozens of individual stars.
Dec. 30: Leap Second
The year 2005 ends at midnight tomorrow. Yet the stroke of midnight will be delayed by one second. The international agency that coordinates how we track time will add a “leap second” at the end of tomorrow, so December 31st will last 24 hours and one second.
Dec. 31: New Year’s Star
As the new year rings in at midnight, look toward the south for a brilliant celestial beacon: Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It’s nicknamed the “dog star” because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, the big dog.
Jan. 1: Moon and Venus
The crescent Moon and the bright planet Venus stand close together in the southwest as darkness falls the next couple of evenings. Venus looks like a brilliant star to the right of the Moon. They are so low in the sky that you need a clear horizon to see them.
