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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Planetary trio – Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury – low in west at dusk
For the first time since October 2015, sky watchers will have the chance to view a planetary trio, or 3 planets all bunched up together on the sky's dome. Two are Jupiter and Saturn, fresh from their much-viewed December conjunction. The 3rd planet is elusive Mercury.
January 8, 2021
Close and far moons of 2021
In the year 2021, the moon will swing to its farthest point from Earth on May 11, 2021, and then will come closest to Earth on December 4, 2021.
January 1, 2021
Lengths of lunar months 2021
Lunar months are the time between successive new moons. A lunar month is also called a lunation or a synodic month.
January 1, 2021
Last full moon of the decade, again
The last full moon of 2020 - and the last full moon of the 202nd decade - happens on December 29 or 30, 2020, depending on your time zone.
December 29, 2020
Sun’s entry into zodiac constellations, 2021
The sun entered the constellation Sagittarius on December 18, 2020. It'll cross into the constellation Capricornus on January 19, 2021. Look here for dates of the sun's entry into the zodiacal constellations for 2021.
December 28, 2020
Sun’s entry into zodiac signs, 2021
Every year, at the December solstice, the sun enters the sign Capricorn. One month later, on January 19, 2021, the sun will enter the sign Aquarius. Look here for the dates for the sun's entry into each sign of the zodiac for the year 2021.
December 28, 2020
Moon passes in front of Taurus the Bull
These next three nights - December 26, 27 and 28, 2020 - the bright waxing gibbous moon shines in front of the constellation Taurus the Bull.
December 26, 2020
Moon, Mars, Uranus December 22 to 24
Uranus likely won't be visible to the eye alone. But you'll easily see red Mars near the moon on December 22, 23 and 24, 2020. Mars isn't exactly blazing now. But it's bright, and very red, still a stunning sight, high in the sky at nightfall.
December 22, 2020
All you need to know: 2020’s great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
Jupiter and Saturn at conjunction are only 0.1 degree apart. Don't miss them! Info, charts, photos here.
December 21, 2020
Solstice sun at southernmost point
The December solstice happens at 10:02 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on December 21, 2020. That time - the moment of solstice - marks the sun's southernmost point for this year.
December 21, 2020
