Mount Washington — The last of the longest nights of the year are bookended by planet Venus taking final bows in early morning twilight in the southeast, and planets Jupiter and Saturn poised at the edge of the southwest skyline in afternoon dusk. The latest sunrises of the year — 7:22 a.m. through January 9 — and early sunsets — around 4:30 p.m. — motivate this stargazer to greet starry skies, mostly in short jaunts, during morning darkness and half-light, 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and in the afternoon beginning just before 5 p.m.
Today and tomorrow, while observing Jupiter and Saturn in the southwest, turn to face the opposite skyline, east-northeast, to meet the great orb of the rising moon.
Observing times suggested in the following illustrations are for unobstructed views to the horizon. Begin viewing in twilight half hour after sunset. Even when skies are hazy, I have found that binoculars (mine are 10×42) bring the planets into view.
Since the great conjunction of the 21st, Saturn, 0.61 magnitude, has moved passed brighter Jupiter, -1.94m, and the space between the two is widening. On the 21st, Saturn set 12 seconds after Jupiter. Today, the 28th, Saturn sets at 6:22 p.m.; Jupiter follows 3 minutes later, setting at 6:25 p.m. Mercury may be too close to the horizon for successful viewing in hilly terrain.
Following nearly 15 hours of darkness, the morning star, brilliant planet Venus, -3.92 magnitude (the lower the number the brighter the celestial body), is easily spotted in the southeast from about 6:15 a.m. until nearly 7 a.m., although the planet dims as twilight brightens. Venus rises at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow morning, opposite the full moon lowering into the northwest horizon.
The illustration shows the waning crescent phases of the moon at the end of next week. December’s Full Long Night Moon, aptly named by the Mohican people, rises in the east-northeast tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 4:05 p.m. The rising full moon nearly mirrors the Sun as it sets on the opposite horizon, southwest, at 4:29 p.m. Next morning, Wednesday, the 30th, enjoy the vision of the great moon low in the west-northwest until 7:55 a.m.
After Jupiter and Saturn set, burnished gold Mars (-0.31m tonight, the 28th) comes into view rather high in the southeast. By the 10th, Mars’ magnitude dips to 0.00.
Wander the heavens, eyes to the sky, immersed in the dark mornings and nights with unique appreciation. Catch Venus, Jupiter and Saturn before they fall into the Sun’s glare. High riding Mars is losing magnitude.
