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Dec 02

What’s Up in the Sky

What’s Up in the Sky – December, 2019

A Look Back at History and Up at the Planets

Nineteen sixty eight was both a very bad and a very good year. The Smithsonian Magazine devoted an entire issue to 1968 as several historical events occurred that year, not all of them very uplifting, to say the least. There were assassinations (Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert Kennedy), riots (the Democratic convention in Chicago), and numerous protests against the war in Viet Nam. But the year ended on a high note when the Apollo 8 astronauts, Frank Borman, Bill Anders, and Jim Lovell, made the first manned trip to the Moon, orbiting it ten times before returning to Earth.

The crew made history in a couple of other ways as well. You are probably familiar with the famous “Earthrise” photo of our own planet suspended in a vast black sky over the lunar horizon. But probably the most memorable event of the mission occurred when the three astronauts each read several verses from the Book of Genesis in a live television broadcast on Christmas Eve. Finally people could enjoy an uplifting story of bravery and courage, of exploration and discovery, and a positive ending to an otherwise negative year. In fact, after the mission, Borman received a telegram that said, “Thank you Apollo 8. You saved 1968”.

Although this month might not turn out to be quite as historic as 1968, there will still be some interesting sights to enjoy, starting with tonight. Look low near the southwest horizon at 6:00 p.m. and you should be able to spot three planets and the crescent Moon in a straight line. Given the necessary conditions of a clear sky and a view of the horizon, they should be easy to spot as they are the brightest objects in the sky at the time. Venus will outshine them all with Jupiter close behind to her lower left. Above and to the right of Venus look for faint Saturn near the handle of the Teapot in Sagittarius.

Although Jupiter will quickly fade away toward the horizon, the other two will remain visible and will get closer and closer together as Venus moves past Saturn over the next few days. They will appear closest on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 10 and 11 when their separation will be about the size of four full Moons.

But that’s not all. Stay with Venus all month and you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the planet shining brightly over a thin, crescent Moon on Saturday, December 28.

The month of December is a time when there really aren’t that many notable constellations well placed for viewing. The summer triangle is sinking in the west and the bright stars of winter are just coming up in the east. Next month will offer better viewing opportunities for what’s up in the sky.

This month in history:
Dec. 3: Pioneer 10 spacecraft makes closest approach to Jupiter – 1973
Dec. 7: Gerard Kuiper born – 1905
Dec. 14: Gene Cernan, Apollo 17 astronaut, is last human to walk on Moon – 1972
Dec. 20: Founding of Mt. Wilson Solar Observatory – 1904
Dec. 24: Apollo 8 astronauts give us inspirational moment from lunar orbit – 1968
Dec. 25: Isaac Newton born – 1642