Mahon About Town Nantucket Blog

“The Nantucket Sky” is generously provided at the beginning of each month by the Maria Mitchell Observatory, 4 Vestal Street. Thank you to Executive Director Janet E. Schulte for proposing this idea, and to Astronomer Vladimir Strelnitski for the report.

The Nantucket Sky in December 2007

(All times are given in Eastern Standard Time)

The Sun (for the middle of the month, December 15)
Rises at 6:59 a.m.
Sets at 4:12 p.m.

The Moon
Last Quarter: December 1, 7:44 am
New Moon: December 9, 12:40 pm
First Quarter: December 17, 5:18 am
Full Moon: December 23, 8:16 pm
Last Quarter: December 31, 2:51 am

Planets (observable planets are boldfaced)
Mercury: Close to the Sun in the sky, not a good object for observations in December
Venus: Very bright in the east, before sunrise
Mars: An all-night object in Gemini, with the closest approach to Earth (opposition)
on December 24 (when its diameter will reach almost 16 seconds of arc; at its closest historical opposition in 2004, Mars was 24 seconds of arc).
Jupiter: Close to the Sun in the sky, not a good object for observations in December.

Saturn: Rises late in the evening and is high in the southern sky in the morning.

Meteor Showers

Geminids: The night from December 13 to 14, Castor (the second brightest star in Gemini) is the “radiant” (the apparent point of origin) for this meteor shower.

An Open Morning for public observation of the meteor shower will be offered at Loines Observatory on the 14th, starting 5 a.m., combined with telescopic observations of Saturn, Venus, Mars and other objects (weather permitting). For more information visit www.mmo.org or call (50 228-9198

Comets

Comet Holmes, which unexpectedly flared up on October 23, is now fading. It was a single outburst, and its products (gas and dust) are quickly expanding and dispersing in space. However, the comet may still be observable in Perseus in December with binoculars. (go to http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10775326.html for many pictures of the comet and a map).