Dec. 21 Winter Solstice
Winter arrives in the northern hemisphere today as the Sun
reaches its southernmost point for the year: the December solstice.
After today, the Sun will reverse course and slowly move
northward.
Dec. 21 Winter Solstice
Winter arrives in the northern hemisphere today as the Sun reaches its southernmost point for the year: the December solstice. After today, the Sun will reverse course and slowly move northward.
Dec. 22 Hydra
Hydra, the water snake, pokes its head above the eastern horizon fairly early this evening. But the constellation is so long that its tail doesn’t climb into view until seven hours later. Even then you need dark skies to find it, because most of its stars are faint.
Dec. 23 Jupiter’s Moons
Look for the planet Jupiter rising in the wee hours of the morning and well up in the south at first light. It looks like a brilliant cream-colored star. With binoculars, you can spot Jupiter’s four biggest moons, which look like tiny stars lined up near the planet.
Dec. 24 Wise Stars
Orion, the hunter, stands well up in the southeast around 9 o’clock. Its most prominent feature is a short row of three stars known as Orion’s Belt. Early Christians identified the belt’s stars as the Three Magi, the wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus.
Dec. 25 Long Night Moon
The Moon is full early tomorrow. It’s known as the Long Night Moon because it remains in the sky longer than any other full Moon of the year.
Dec. 26 Moon and Saturn
The full Moon passes through a region of the sky that’s already filled with bright sights the next few nights. In particular, it will shoot the gap between the “twin” stars of Gemini and the planet Saturn, with the “little dog star” looking on.
Dec. 27 More Moon
and Saturn
The planet Saturn rises just to the lower right of the Moon this evening, and looks like a bright golden star. The bright “twin” stars of Gemini, Pollux and Castor, stand to the lower left of the Moon.
– By the University of Texas McDonald Observatory online
