Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Dec. 28 7:07 4:18

Sat., Dec. 29 7:08 4:19

Sun., Dec. 30 7:08 4:19

Mon., Dec. 31 7:08 4:20

Tues., Jan. 1 7:08 4:21

Wed., Jan. 2 7:08 4:22

Thurs., Jan. 3 7:08 4:23

Fri., Jan. 4 7:08 4:24

Late-night revelers will be out on New Year’s Eve celebrating under a Last Quarter Moon. The moon rises in the eastern sky, less than an hour after the arrival of the New Year. The moon is in the zodiacal constellation Leo, a constellation most often associated with spring and summer.

On the same night the moon is also close to the ringed-planet Saturn.

If you are out at midnight, look high up toward the zenith for the bright-red planet Mars. Mars rises in the east at about the same time as the sun sets in the west, but by midnight, Mars has climbed high in the sky. Other than the moon, Mars is the closest celestial object to the Earth and it doesn’t often get this close.

Mars is in opposition, or about 56 million miles away. The last time Mars was closer was two years ago.

For partygoers out even later, the morning sky offers another great show before dawn. For those awake and still having good vision, the brilliant planet Venus appears above the eastern sky just before sunrise. Venus is the brightest planet in the night sky even though it is 106 million miles away, almost twice the distance of Mars.

And to add to the magic, the sun will be closest to the Earth on Jan. 2. Astronomers estimate that the sun will be 91 million miles away, when it usually is closer to 93 million miles away.

M.A.L.