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Posts by
Bruce McClure
December brings 2019’s 2nd Friday the 13th
Friday - December 13 - comes exactly 13 weeks after the year's first Friday the 13th in September. Zoinks! By the way, a fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia.
December 12, 2019
Last full moon of the decade on December 11-12
Above: Angela Demetriou McClain of Botetourt County, Virginia, wrote: “Full Cold Moon, taken at 12:12 a.m. from my front yard...
December 11, 2019
See this week’s Venus-Saturn pairing
On December 10 and 11, 2019, look in the sunset direction - close to the sunset point on the horizon, not long after the sun goes down - for the the conjunction of 2 bright planets, Venus and Saturn. Some will also spot Jupiter nearby.
December 9, 2019
Mars and Zubenelgenubi close this week
This next week, before dawn, watch as the red planet Mars sweeps by the Zubenelgenubi, the constellation Libra's alpha star.
December 8, 2019
December 3-4 brings 2019’s farthest 1st quarter moon
Although the moon reached its farthest point from Earth for the year last February 5, the year's farthest 1st quarter moon comes on December 3-4, 2019.
December 3, 2019
Keep an eye out for Mercury and Mars
The first week or even two of December 2019 should provide a good view of Mercury in the morning sky for northerly latitudes. The planet is bottommost on a line with the red planet Mars and bright star Spica, in the east before sunup.
December 1, 2019
Sun enters Ophiuchus on November 30
The sun always passes in front of Ophiuchus from about November 30 to December 18. That's why some call Ophiuchus an unofficial member of the zodiac.
November 30, 2019
Let the moon show you Saturn
At nightfall these next few evenings - November 29 and 30, 2019 - use the waxing crescent moon to find the planet Saturn.
November 29, 2019
Young moon and 3 planets after sunset
Check out the picturesque scene in the west after sunset on November 27, 28 and 29, 2019. The young moon will sweep past 3 planets - Venus, Jupiter and Saturn - wow!
November 27, 2019
Spectacular! Don’t miss Venus and Jupiter
The sky's 2 brightest planets - Venus and Jupiter - will meet for conjunction on November 24, 2019. Watch them draw closer in the west after sunset this weekend!
November 24, 2019
