Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Nov. 30 6:47 4:12

Sat., Dec. 1 6:48 4:12

Sun., Dec. 2 6:49 4:11

Mon., Dec. 3 6:50 4:11

Tues., Dec. 4 6:51 4:11

Wed., Dec. 5 6:52 4:11

Thurs., Dec. 6 6:53 4:11

Fri., Dec. 7 6:54 4:11

A last quarter moon appears close to the ringed-planet Saturn tomorrow morning. The two rise in the eastern sky at midnight, and will be best seen after 1 a.m. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Leo.

Saturn is the brightest planet in the east in the early hours of morning. By sunrise, the ringed planet is high overhead.

On Wednesday morning the crescent moon passes underneath the bright planet Venus and the bright star Spica. The three are in the zodiacal constellation Virgo and form a triangle. Spica is one of the brightest stars in the sky but it pales when compared to the brilliance of our sister planet.

Mars

The brightest planet in the eastern sky is the red planet Mars, now in the zodiacal constellation Gemini. Mars won’t get much brighter than it is now but it will continue to get closer. Mars will be 54 million miles away on December 18, and in opposition a day before Christmas. For purposes of comparison, Venus and the Sun are roughly 93 million miles way.

If you’ve got a telescope, now is the time to take a look at this planet, it doesn’t get much bigger than it is now. Mars will gain plenty of attention in the weeks ahead as more and more notice its prominence in the eastern sky.

M.A.L.