Although Uranus looks like a faint star, even through binoculars, that’s only because this distant world resides in the outskirts of the planetary system, at about 19 AU from the sun. Uranus’ diameter is actually four times greater than Earth’s diameter, and its surface area some 16 times greater than that of Earth.
Tonight – December 19, 2015 – as darkness falls, the moon will be rather close to the planet Uranus on the sky’s dome. Just don’t expect to see Uranus by the moon this evening, at least not with the unaided eye.
On a dark, moonless night, practiced sky watchers with exceptional vision can barely perceive this planet as a faint speck of light. In the moon’s glare … probably not.
Toward the end of the month, when the moon drops out of the evening sky, try star-hopping to Uranus in a dark sky. You’ll probably need binoculars, a detailed sky chart and some patience to find Uranus in front of the constellation Pisces.
From almost everywhere on Earth, the moon will swing to the south of Uranus, as the moon makes its monthly rounds through the constellations of the Zodiac. In other words, no occultation of Uranus is in the works for this month – unless you live at the very tip of South America, Falkland Islands or the Antarctic Peninsula. Uranus will slip behind the moon’s dark side, and then reappear on its illuminated side.
Uranus and Neptune are in Pisces and Aquarius, respectively, See larger chart via Sky & Telescope
Of course, Uranus is a mighty gas giant planet in the outer solar system. It is much, much larger than our moon. It only appears small enough to be covered by the moon because of the moon’s closer distance. Uranus, the seventh planet outward from the sun, resides about 19.6 astronomical units away from Earth. That’s nearly 8,000 times farther than tonight’s moon.
Bottom line: As darkness falls on December 19, 2015, the moon is somewhat past its first quarter phase and shines close to the planet Uranus on the great dome of sky.
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For the Western Hemisphere, first full moon on Christmas since 1977
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Although Uranus looks like a faint star, even through binoculars, that’s only because this distant world resides in the outskirts of the planetary system, at about 19 AU from the sun. Uranus’ diameter is actually four times greater than Earth’s diameter, and its surface area some 16 times greater than that of Earth.
Tonight – December 19, 2015 – as darkness falls, the moon will be rather close to the planet Uranus on the sky’s dome. Just don’t expect to see Uranus by the moon this evening, at least not with the unaided eye.
On a dark, moonless night, practiced sky watchers with exceptional vision can barely perceive this planet as a faint speck of light. In the moon’s glare … probably not.
Toward the end of the month, when the moon drops out of the evening sky, try star-hopping to Uranus in a dark sky. You’ll probably need binoculars, a detailed sky chart and some patience to find Uranus in front of the constellation Pisces.
From almost everywhere on Earth, the moon will swing to the south of Uranus, as the moon makes its monthly rounds through the constellations of the Zodiac. In other words, no occultation of Uranus is in the works for this month – unless you live at the very tip of South America, Falkland Islands or the Antarctic Peninsula. Uranus will slip behind the moon’s dark side, and then reappear on its illuminated side.
Uranus and Neptune are in Pisces and Aquarius, respectively, See larger chart via Sky & Telescope
Of course, Uranus is a mighty gas giant planet in the outer solar system. It is much, much larger than our moon. It only appears small enough to be covered by the moon because of the moon’s closer distance. Uranus, the seventh planet outward from the sun, resides about 19.6 astronomical units away from Earth. That’s nearly 8,000 times farther than tonight’s moon.
Bottom line: As darkness falls on December 19, 2015, the moon is somewhat past its first quarter phase and shines close to the planet Uranus on the great dome of sky.
Donate: Your support means the world to us
For the Western Hemisphere, first full moon on Christmas since 1977
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1Pfz0Ye
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