Eyes on the Sky Update
Monday, Dec. 12 – Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022
Monday, Dec. 12 – Nineteen-day old, 80% illuminated waning gibbous moon rises about 8:15 p.m. out of the northeast with the spring constellation Cancer the crab.
Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Start of Geminid Meteor Shower, now ranked as the best meteor shower of the year. The meteors for this shower radiate from the east to northeast, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Watch before the moon rises at about 9:20 p.m. A clear, unobstructed sky is needed with minimal light pollution (outdoor lights). Dress warmly and be patient. If you see a meteor every few minutes, you are doing well!
Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Maximum of Geminid Meteor Shower occurs this morning after sunrise. Watch the sky this evening for more “shooting stars” in advance of the moon rising around 10:25 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 15 – The Big Dipper is very low in the north at about 6 p.m. Five hours later, the Big Dipper is “standing” on its handle above the north-northeastern horizon. Orion is at its highest in the south around midnight.
Friday, Dec. 16 – Last quarter moon occurs at 3:56 a.m. against the constellation Virgo the virgin. The moon will be in the southeastern sky at that time.
Saturday, Dec. 17 – Venus becoming visible very low in southwestern sky. Use binoculars to find Venus in the bright twilight sky 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At that time, Venus will be about one binocular field-of-view above the horizon. This evening “star” will become obvious in the southwest after the beginning of the new year.
Sunday, Dec. 18 – Waning crescent moon above Spica, Virgo’s brightest star, in predawn sky. Moon and Spica above southeastern horizon around 5 a.m. then in south-southeast at 6 a.m.
Editor’s Note: Richard Monda, assistant professor of Physics and Astronomy, publishes updates to his HVCC Eyes on the Sky video series each week in the Campus Chronicle. This Dec. 12 through 18 edition will be the last update for 2022.