| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on current and upcoming astronomical events
have been assembled for our Okanagan region by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on
special personal astro-experiences to look forward to.
Wed. Dec. 3 – Preparing for her one day away Full Moon appearance, tonight Luna warms up by providing a fingerpost to the inner ice giant Uranus. You may be distracted by the Pleiades appearing right next to the Moon, but if you are so minded, scan about three finger widths to the lower right of Luna with binoculars or a telescope to spot the tiny greenish disk which is about 3 billion kilometers away!
Thurs. Dec. 4 – This is Full Moon night and Luna will be very high on the ecliptic plane to look over early Christmas preparations in the Okanagan. She is also at perigee and closest to Earth to have a better look. We, in turn, will see the lunar disk a bit larger than average.
Sat. Dec. 6 – Tonight will offer an opportunity to catch ‘the Demon Star’ in one of its blinks. Algol in Perseus, climbing into the northeastern sky, will reach its minimum brightness in a two hour time period centered at 8.12pm this evening. Compare its brightness with neighbouring stars before 7.00pm and then check it out at its faintest either side of 8.00pm.
Sun. Dec. 7 – Luna, now in waning gibbous phase, will be just to the left of Jupiter this evening adding luster to the night sky.
Mon. Dec. 8 – Keeping up her busy social schedule, tonight Luna will cozy up to M44, the Beehive Cluster in Cancer the Crab. Luna will only be about three of her widths to the upper right of the swarm of faint stars so binoculars will aid in adding them to the scene.
Tues. Dec. 9 – There will be another minimum of Algol tonight, with the two hour fainter period centered at 5.01pm. In this case, an early look before 6pm will reveal the fainter eclipsed Algol, while a return visit after 6 will show the full illumination with both binary stars.
Thurs. Dec. 11 – This is Last Quarter Moon night and the reversed neatly divided Lunar disk will rise in the early morning hours grouped with the stars of Virgo.
Sat. Dec. 13 – The Geminids are among the most looked forward to meteor showers of the year, and they’ll reach their peak late tonight and in the early morning hours. The good news is that the waning crescent Moon will not be too much of an interference. The ‘river’ of cometary dust that produces the shower is fairly long and originated with the Apollo asteroid Phaethon. It will also offer some continuing action the following night and through to the 17th.
Fri. Dec. 19 – This is New Moon night, the heart of the current dark moon period. Given clear skies the fainter central and western sky constellations will be available for exploring with binoculars and telescopes and later into the night the magnificent celestial fireworks including Taurus and Orion will invite naked eye observing as well.
Sat. Dec. 20 – Time really moves along! The winter solstice will take place this morning at 7.03am on this shortest day (and longest night) of the year. It will be marked tonight by Orion and the other dramatic winter constellations striding across the southern sky in their full glory.
Sun. Dec. 21 – There is a minor meteor shower scheduled for tonight and early tomorrow morning and Luna will not be around to compromise it! The Ursids are not the brightest shower going, but a meteor shower is a meteor shower. The shower derives its name from its radiant in Ursa Minor not far from Polaris. It typically yields an average of about 10 meteors per hour.
Wed. Dec 24 – It’s Christmas Eve and a parade of celestial treats will make the night sky special. The waxing crescent Moon will take the stage first in the south-west sky, followed by Saturn and later by the brilliant outline of Orion, providing Santa with handy reference points as he begins his annual global pilgrimage. To add additional interest, Jupiter will host a double shadow transit event around 8.30pm!
Sat. Dec. 27 – Tonight is First Quarter Moon night, and as well as the dramatic half-lit lunar disk there will be other things to see as well. Saturn will anchor the lower western sky to luna’s lower right while Neptune will tempt telescope observers about a degree away from the ringed planet on the same line pointing toward luna.
Wed. Dec. 31 – Well, here we are at the last day of 2025! For one thing, this happens to be the morning with the latest sunrise of the year! And, if the sky is clear tonight, New Year’s revelers will be treated to quite a sky full of beautiful sights. First of all Luna, almost at full phase, will dominate the sky perched above Taurus. To her lower right will be the Pleiades, Aldebaran and the Hyades will be below, all set to welcome the brilliant performer Orion who will rule the night later on. Those out a bit later may notice Arcturus rising in the east, heralding the start of a new year and the succession of familiar spring constellations to come. Happy New Year!