Dec. 28 Dawn Planets
Use binoculars to scan low in the southeast about 45 minutes to
an hour before sunrise tomorrow for three planets: Venus, Mercury
and Mars. Venus is the brightest of the three, with Mercury barely
to its upper left. Orange Mars is farther to Venus’ upper
right.
Dec. 28 Dawn Planets
Use binoculars to scan low in the southeast about 45 minutes to an hour before sunrise tomorrow for three planets: Venus, Mercury and Mars. Venus is the brightest of the three, with Mercury barely to its upper left. Orange Mars is farther to Venus’ upper right.
Dec. 29 Phoenix
Phoenix, the mythical bird that represents rebirth, stands just above the southeastern horizon at sunset and drops from view by midnight for skywatchers in the southern United States. The constellation’s brightest star, Ankaa, is at its northern tip.
Dec. 30 Orion
Orion, the hunter, rises into full glory this evening. He clears the eastern horizon in early evening, and stands high in the south by around 10pm. The constellation is a rectangle of four bright stars, with a short diagonal line of three stars in its center.
Dec. 31 New Year’s Skies
As you ring in the new year this night, look well up in the south for the dog star Sirius, the brightest star in all the night sky. To its upper right is Orion, the hunter. And a little farther to the northwest, you will come to Taurus, the bull.
