This weekend, after sunset, we will have Jupiter in the east and Venus in the west, both extremely radiant. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the night of Saturday 14th. Saturn, Mars and Mercury will also be visible in december. The Geminid meteor shower reaches its maximum these days.
The Moon and Jupiter above the belt of Venus
This weekend we have the opportunity to observe a beautiful conjunction of the very grown Moon (full Moon is on the 15th) with giant Jupiter. The scene takes place in the constellation of Taurus; If you observe just after sunset, you should look east. Since the two stars are now very bright, this conjunction It can also be seen in polluted city skies.
About 20 minutes after the Sun sets, earth’s shadow, a gray band on the horizon, is surrounded by a pinkish glow: It is the so-called belt of Venus. Naturally, the belt of Venus has nothing to do with the planet of the same name, this phenomenon is caused by the backscattering of sunlight in the Earth’s atmosphere; Right now, that pink band provides a magnificent backdrop for observing Selene’s conjunction with the king of planets.
And Jupiter is super bright now, having crossed its opposition on december 7. This means this Jupiter, the Earth and the Sun are on the same straight line today. In this configuration, The giant planet is as close as possible to our planet, but even so its distance exceeds 600 million kilometers. Earth and Jupiter can be seen as two corridors moving along their respective paths (their orbits).On the 7th our planet, which was coming behind Jupiter, reached its height and joined it. It is indeed a phenomenon that repeats itself every 13 months.
In this configuration the giant planet rises as the Sun goes to sleep and crosses the celestial vault to go to sleep at dawn. In the dead of night he lies at approximately 50 degrees elevation in unbeatable condition for observation from Spain. In astronomical terms: its magnitude is now -2.8 and its apparent diameter measures 48 arcseconds (about 40 times smaller than that of the full Moon).
When we observe this conjunction after sunset, we will be able to take the opportunity to admire the magnificent brilliance of Venus, a planet that will then be visible to the west. Venus is now 130 million kilometers from Earth, that is, slightly closer than the Sun (which is 150 million kilometers away) and about 4.6 times closer than Jupiter. The difference in size of the two planets (Jupiter’s volume is 1,500 times that of Venus) combined with the difference in their distances, makes the brightness of Venus 4 times that of Jupiter.
Saturn, Mars and Mercury
On December 17 and 18, Mars will form a conjunction with the moon. Actually, the apparent positions of the two stars will become so close that on Wednesday the 18th the occultation of the red planet behind our satellite will occur. Though, this occultation will not be easily observable, as it will occur during the day. about two hours after sunrise. The dive behind the lunar disk will take place at 10:44 am, peninsula and Balearic time.
Mars and the Moon on December 18th.
Saturn remains visible during the first half of the night, seen high above the southern horizon after sunset, albeit with a very modest brightness (110 times less than that of Venus). in the dawns of the second half of the month little Mercury will be seen.
Mercury, visible at the end of the month.
Geminids with moon
The Geminids, one of the moast abundant meteor showers of the year, They reach their maximum on the night between 13 and 14 Decemberwith the Moon very high since, as we have underlined, the full moon occurs on the 15th. It will be advisable to observe this meteor shower a few days before or a few days after its maximum, since the meteors can be seen from above from the 4th to the 17th of the month . The Geminids take their name from the position of their radiant, in the constellation Gemini (and more precisely, near the star Castor). A peculiarity of this meteor shower is that its progenitor is an asteroid, the so-called Phaethon, most likely an extinct comet.
The Geminids.
We remind you that to observe shooting stars you do not need any instrument,binoculars or telescope.Of course it is meaningful to look for a place free of light pollution and to be patient.
We are already very close to the winter solstice, they are the longest nights of the year. When the atmosphere is clear, they are best for observing the sky. we take this opportunity to raise our gaze towards the sublime nocturnal vault, which perhaps reminds us that we are part of an ancient cosmos that has fascinated all the civilizations of the Earth, a cosmos full of wonders that never ceases to amaze us.
rafael Bachiller is director of the National Astronomical observatory (National Geographic Institute) and academic of Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain.
#Jupiter #Venus #superluminous #Geminid #shower
How can I best observe the Geminid meteor shower and other celestial phenomena?
Time.news Interview: Exploring the Celestial Wonders of December with Astrophysicist Dr. Elena Ramirez
editor (E): Welcome to time.news, dr. Ramirez! We’re thrilled to have you here to discuss the exciting astronomical events this weekend. Let’s start with the conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon. can you explain what a conjunction is and why this particular event is so special?
Dr. Elena Ramirez (ER): Thank you for having me! A conjunction occurs when two celestial bodies appear very close together in the sky from our perspective on Earth. This weekend’s conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon is notably special because Jupiter is at its brightest—having recently crossed its opposition, meaning it is almost as close to us as it gets, about 600 million kilometers away. This makes it perfect for observation, even from light-polluted urban areas.
E: That’s captivating! What can viewers expect to see when they look to the east after sunset?
ER: Right after sunset,observers will see a gorgeous scene—the luminous Moon positioned very close to the grand Jupiter in the constellation of Taurus. about 20 minutes after sunset, you’ll also notice the pinkish glow on the horizon known as the ‘belt of Venus.’ This stunning backdrop enhances the experience of witnessing the conjunction, adding layers of beauty to the evening sky.
E: Speaking of beauty, Venus will also be visible during this time! How does it compare to Jupiter in terms of brightness?
ER: Absolutely! Venus will be shining beautifully in the west, and despite its smaller size—it’s about 1,500 times less massive than Jupiter—it will be four times brighter due to its closer proximity to Earth, which is around 130 million kilometers away. The contrast between the two planets tonight will surely be a treat for stargazers!
E: There’s so much happening beyond Jupiter and Venus in December. Can you tell us about the other celestial events, particularly the Geminid meteor shower?
ER: Definitely! The Geminid meteor shower peaks around December 13 to 14, and it’s considered one of the best meteor showers of the year. Under the right conditions, you might see up to 120 meteors per hour. this year’s meteor shower coincides splendidly with the conjunction, making this weekend an astronomy enthusiast’s dream!
E: That sounds unbelievable! I heard there are also upcoming events involving Mars, saturn, and Mercury. What should we look out for?
ER: Yes,after the conjunction weekend,there’s a fascinating event on December 17 and 18 when Mars will have a conjunction with the Moon,culminating in an occultation. During this event,Mars will temporarily disappear behind the Moon from our viewpoint. Though, as this will happen during the daytime, it might be tough to witness.
E: For those eager to observe these celestial wonders, what practical advice can you give them to enhance their experience?
ER: Great question! First, find a dark place away from city lights, if possible.Bring a pair of binoculars or a small telescope to get an even closer look at these planets. Also, be sure to check the weather; a clear sky is essential. don’t forget to enjoy the moment—these celestial occurrences are not just scientific events; they are moments of awe that connect us to the universe.
E: Thank you, Dr. Ramirez, for sharing your insights. It’s truly exciting to think about how these events can inspire wonder and curiosity in everyone.
ER: Thank you for having me! I hope everyone takes the opportunity to look up this weekend and enjoy the beauty of our cosmos.