December 2011 Sky Events

Moon Phases

Fri., December 2, 4:52 a.m. EST

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 1 p.m., and sets around 1 a.m.

Sat., December 10, 9:36 a.m. EST

Full Moon

The Full Moon of December is usually called the Oak Moon. In Algonquian it is called Cold Moon. Other names are Frost Moon, Winter Moon, Long Night’s Moon, and Moon Before Yule. In Hindi it is known as Margashirsha Poornima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Unduvap Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Sat., December 17, 7:48 p.m. EST

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 11 p.m. and sets around noon. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Sat., December 24, 1:06 p.m. EST

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

Sat., December 10, dawn

Total Lunar Eclipse

This eclipse will be seen in its entirety in eastern Asia, Australia, Oceania, and Alaska. The Moon will rise eclipsed in the early evening in Europe and Africa, and set eclipsed just before dawn in western North America. The graphic shows how it will look just before dawn in central California, surrounded by first magnitude stars.

Thu., December 22, 12:30 a.m. EST

Solstice

Winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. The Sun is at its farthest southern declination, and is 6.5 degrees away from the center of the Milky Way. This is exactly the same “alignment” as will occur on December 21 2012, yet no catastrophes have been predicted for this year, just as none will occur next year. Because of the extreme difference in brightness between the Sun and the Milky Way, this “alignment” is observable only in a computer simulation.

Thu., December 22, and Fri., December 23, dawn

Close encounter between Mercury and the Moon

The Moon will be just to the right of Mercury on the Dec. 22 (shown here) and just to the left of Mercury on the Dec. 23.

Tue., December 27, 10:52 p.m. EST

Jupiter satellite show

Three of Jupiter’s moons will put on a fine show tonight. Callisto will be in an unusual position due south of the planet because of the extreme tilt of the plane of Jupiter’s moons this year. Europa will be moving off from in front of Jupiter on one limb while its shadow begins a transit on the opposite limb. Ganymede, well off to the right, will still be casting its shadow just below Europa. Finally, the Great Red Spot will be perfectly placed right in the middle of all this.

Planets

Mercury is well placed in the eastern sky before sunrise for the last half of the month.

Venus is low in the evening sky after sunset all month. The waxing crescent Moon will pass close to Venus on Mon. Dec. 26 and Tue. Dec. 27.

Mars spends all of December in the morning sky in Leo. It now outshines nearby Regulus and grows from 7 arc seconds to 9 arc seconds during the month, large enough to reveal its polar cap and dark surface markings in a 6-inch (150-mm) telescope. It is now approaching magnitude 0, one of the brightest objects in the morning sky.

Jupiter continues to be well placed in the evening sky all month on the border between Aries and Pisces. Jupiter and Venus are the brightest objects in the night sky other than the Moon.

Saturn is visible before dawn in the eastern sky. It now shines brighter than nearby Spica.

Uranus is well placed in the early evening in Pisces all month.

Neptune is well placed in the early evening in Aquarius all month.

Geoff Gaherty

Starry Night Software Support

November 2011 Sky Events

Moon Phases

Wed., November 2, 2:38 p.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 2 p.m., and sets around 1 a.m.

Thu., November 10, 3:16 p.m. EST

Full Moon

This is the Full Moon two months after Harvest Moon, so is usually called the Oak Moon. In Algonquian it is called Beaver Moon. Other names are Frost Moon and Snow Moon. In Hindi it is known as Kartik Poornima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Il Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Fri., November 18, 12:09 p.m. EST

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around midnight and sets around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Fri., November 25, 1:10 a.m. EST

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

All Month, evening

Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)

Comet Garradd continues to be a nice object in binoculars or a small telescope, an 8th magnitude comet slowly crossing Hercules.

Tue., November 1, dusk

Mercury and Venus 2 degrees apart

The first of two close encounters between Mercury and Venus this month. Mercury’s proximity to Venus makes it easier than usual to spot.

Thu., November 10, 3 a.m.

Mars close to Regulus

Mars will be just north of Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.

Sat., November 12, dusk

Mercury and Venus 2 degrees apart

The second of two close encounters between Mercury and Venus this month. Mercury’s proximity to Venus makes it easier than usual to spot. Tomorrow evening Mercury will be at its greatest elongation from the Sun.

Thu., November 17, 11 p.m. EST

Leonid meteors peak

The Leonid meteor shower, which sometimes puts on a good show, peaks at 11 p.m. EST, but more meteors are likely to be visible after local midnight.

Fri., November 25

Partial solar eclipse

Visible in southern South Africa, Antarctica, Tasmania, and most of New Zealand.

Planets

Mercury is well placed in the western sky after sunset for the first half of the month. It is very close to Venus, making it easy to spot.

Venus is low in the evening sky after sunset all month.

Mars spends all of November in Leo. It now outshines nearby Regulus and reaches 7 arc seconds by the end of the month, large enough to reveal its polar cap and dark surface markings in a 6-inch (150-mm) telescope.

Jupiter was in opposition in Aries in October 28, so is well placed in the evening sky all month. Jupiter and Venus are the brightest objects in the night sky other than the Moon.

Saturn reappears just before dawn in the eastern sky close to Spica in Virgo.

Uranus is well placed in Pisces all month.

Neptune is well placed in Aquarius all month.

Geoff Gaherty   Starry Night software

October 2011 Sky Events

Moon Phases

Mon., October 3, 11:15 p.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 3 p.m., and sets around 11 p.m.

Tue., October 11, 10:06 p.m. EDT

Full Moon

This is the Full Moon after Harvest Moon, so is usually called the Hunter’s Moon. Other names are Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, and Blood Moon. In Hindi it is known as Kojagiri or Sharad Purnima, or lakshmi puja. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Vap Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky. This is the smallest Full Moon of 2011.

Wed., October 19, 11:30 p.m. EDT

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 11 p.m. and sets around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Wed., October 26, 3:56 p.m. EDT

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

All Month, evening

Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)

Comet Garradd continues to be a nice object in binoculars or a small telescope, an 8th magnitude comet slowly crossing Hercules. Unfortunately, Comet Elenin, which was hoped to put on a good show this month, does not seem to have survived its close encounter with the Sun.

Sat., October 1, morning

Mars in the Beehive

The planet Mars is imbedded amongst the stars of the Beehive Cluster in Cancer.

Mon., October 24–Mon., October 31, morning

Zodiacal Light

The Zodiacal Light, the faint glow of sunlight reflecting off the cloud of interplanetary dust, is visible before morning twilight.

Fri., October 28, sunset

Mercury and Venus close to the Moon

Mercury, Venus, and the slender crescent Moon set just after the Sun.

Fri., October 28, 10 pm. EDT

Jupiter in opposition

Jupiter reaches opposition in the constellation Aries, and is visible all night long.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun for most of the month for observers in the northern hemisphere.

Venus is low in the evening sky just after sunset all month.

Mars begins the month right in the middle of the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. By the end of the month it has moved into Leo and has grown to 5.9 arc seconds in diameter and magnitude 1.1.

Jupiter is opposition in Aries in October 28, and is the brightest object in the night sky other than the Moon.

Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun on October 13, and is not visible this month.

Uranus is visible most of the night in Pisces.

Neptune is well placed in Aquarius all month.

Geoff Gaherty

Starry Night software

September 2011 Sky Events

Moon Phases

Sun., September 4, 1:39 p.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 3 p.m., and sets around midnight.

Mon., September 12, 5:27 a.m. EDT

Full Moon

This Full Moon is the one closest to the equinox on September 23, so is this year’s Harvest Moon. Other names are Corn Moon and Barley Moon. In Hindi it is known as Bhadrapad Poornima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Binara Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Tue., September 20, 9:39 a.m. EDT

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 11 p.m. and sets around 3 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Tue., September 27, 7:09 a.m. EDT

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

All Month, evening

Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)

Although Comet Elenin has been getting a lot of publicity from the merchants of gloom and doom, there is actually a brighter comet visible with binoculars all month, located in or near the Summer Triangle of Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

Fri., September 9, morning twilight

Mercury close to Regulus

The highlight of the best morning apparition of Mercury of the year for observers in the northern hemisphere is this close approach to Regulus.

Fri., September 16

Ceres at opposition

Ceres, the brightest and nearest dwarf planet, reaches opposition at magnitude 7.6 on the border between Aquarius and Cetus.

Mon., September 26

Uranus at opposition

Uranus reaches opposition at magnitude 5.7 in Pisces.

Thu., September 29, evening twilight

Venus and Saturn in conjunction

Venus is just arriving in the evening sky and Saturn is just leaving, and they pass each other tonight with a slender crescent Moon nearby.

Planets

Mercury is well placed in the morning sky for observers in the northern hemisphere.

Venus reappears in the evening sky towards the end of the month.

Mars spends the first half of the month in Gemini and the second half in Cancer, ending up right in the Beehive Cluster. By the end of the month it has grown to 5.2 arc seconds in diameter and magnitude 1.3.

Jupiter rises in the late evening in Aries, and then dominates the sky until dawn.

Saturn sets soon after the Sun in the constellation Virgo.

Uranus is in opposition in Pisces on September 26, visible all night.

Neptune is well placed in Aquarius all month.

Geoff Gaherty

Starry Night Software

August 2011 Sky Events

Moon Phases

Sat., August 6, 7:08 a.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 3 p.m., and sets around midnight.

Sat., August 13, 2:57 p.m. EDT

Full Moon

The Full Moon of August is known as the Grain Moon. In Algonquian it is known as Sturgeon Moon. Other names are Red Moon, Green Corn Moon, Lightning Moon, and Dog Moon. In Hindi it is known as Narali Poornima or Raksha Bandhan. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Nikini Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Sun., August 21, 5:54 p.m. EDT

Last Quarter Moon

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 11 p.m. and sets around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Sun., August 28, 11:04 p.m. EDT

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon.

Observing Highlights

All Month, evening twilight

Comet Elenin

Comet Elenin will be well placed in evening twilight for observation with binoculars and small telescopes all month. It will rise from 10^th magnitude at the beginning of the month to 6^th magnitude by the end of the month, moving from Leo into Virgo.

Mon., August 1, twilight

Mercury near the Moon

Mercury will be just to the right of the slender crescent Moon at twilight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fri., August 5

Vesta at opposition

Vesta, the brightest asteroid, reaches opposition in Capricornus on August 5, but will be well placed all month. It will be between magnitudes 5 and 6 all month, making it just visible to the naked eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat., August 6, morning twilight

Mars visits Messier 35

Just before dawn, Mars and open cluster Messier 35 rise together in the northeast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat., August 13, 2 a.m. EDT

Perseid meteor shower peaks

The best meteor shower of the year will be dimmed by a bright Moon this time around, but is always worth watching. Look for early shower meteors during the week leading up to the peak. Best viewed after midnight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mon., August 22

Neptune at opposition

Neptune has just completed its first trip around the Sun since its discovery in 1846. It can be spotted in Aquarius with binoculars and small telescopes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be observed this month.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be observed this month.

Mars is in the eastern sky just before dawn. It moves into Gemini on the 3^rd, where it remains the rest of the month.

Jupiter rises well after midnight, and then dominates the eastern sky until dawn. It spends the whole month in the constellation Aries.

Saturn is low the evening sky in the constellation Virgo.

Uranus is in Pisces all month, visible before dawn.

Neptune is in opposition in Aquarius on August 22, visible in binoculars or a small telescope all night long.

Geoff Gaherty

 Starry Night Software