Tonight – December 17, 2016 – look eastward before going to bed, and you just might catch the moon and the star Regulus over your horizon. Or if you’re an early bird – and go to sleep before the moon and Regulus come up at mid-to-late evening – wake up before dawn to see them. If you do that, you’ll also see the dazzling planet Jupiter, too.
Whether you’re sky gazing this evening or during the predawn hours, look first for the waning gibbous moon. The nearby bright star will be Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. Regulus is sometimes called the Heart of the Lion.
Also, look for the backwards question mark pattern of which Regulus is a part. This pattern – or asterism – on our sky’s dome is called The Sickle.
Use the moon to locate Jupiter in the morning sky for several days, centered on or near December 22.
The Jupiter is also up before dawn. It’s much brighter than Regulus and more noticeable. But Jupiter comes up well after the midnight hour, while the moon and Regulus rise at late evening at mid-northern latitudes (and near midnight at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere).
The exact rising times for the moon, Regulus and Jupiter vary around the world, so you might want to check out the links on our almanac page.
Of the five bright naked-eye planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – Jupiter is the only one to light up the morning sky in December 2016. It’s brighter than any star. You can’t miss it!
Three visible planets – Mercury, Venus and Mars – are found in the evening sky. Mercury will be the hardest to catch, however, because it sets at dusk or very early evening. Venus and Mars will be much easier to view for they stay out for several hours after nightfall. At present, Saturn is lost in the glare of sunrise.
Bottom line: Look eastward before going to bed on the evening of December 17, 2016. The star near the moon is Regulus, Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2fSpfng
Tonight – December 17, 2016 – look eastward before going to bed, and you just might catch the moon and the star Regulus over your horizon. Or if you’re an early bird – and go to sleep before the moon and Regulus come up at mid-to-late evening – wake up before dawn to see them. If you do that, you’ll also see the dazzling planet Jupiter, too.
Whether you’re sky gazing this evening or during the predawn hours, look first for the waning gibbous moon. The nearby bright star will be Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. Regulus is sometimes called the Heart of the Lion.
Also, look for the backwards question mark pattern of which Regulus is a part. This pattern – or asterism – on our sky’s dome is called The Sickle.
Use the moon to locate Jupiter in the morning sky for several days, centered on or near December 22.
The Jupiter is also up before dawn. It’s much brighter than Regulus and more noticeable. But Jupiter comes up well after the midnight hour, while the moon and Regulus rise at late evening at mid-northern latitudes (and near midnight at temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere).
The exact rising times for the moon, Regulus and Jupiter vary around the world, so you might want to check out the links on our almanac page.
Of the five bright naked-eye planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – Jupiter is the only one to light up the morning sky in December 2016. It’s brighter than any star. You can’t miss it!
Three visible planets – Mercury, Venus and Mars – are found in the evening sky. Mercury will be the hardest to catch, however, because it sets at dusk or very early evening. Venus and Mars will be much easier to view for they stay out for several hours after nightfall. At present, Saturn is lost in the glare of sunrise.
Bottom line: Look eastward before going to bed on the evening of December 17, 2016. The star near the moon is Regulus, Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2fSpfng
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