Basingstoke Astronomical Society (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Basingstoke Astronomical Society
11:08am Tuesday 7th December 2010 in Reports
THE phases of the Moon began this month with the new Moon on December 5. The first quarter is on December 12-13.
Full Moon is on December 21 and the last quarter occurs on December 28. The shortest day of the year occurs on the Winter Solstice on December 21. This is when the Sun halts its apparent southerly motion in our skies. Mercury is not visible this month. Venus rises just before 2am and will, therefore, be a brilliant object low in the east in the morning sky.
Mars is not visible this month. Jupiter is visible just south of west for much of the night. It is seen against the background stars of Aquarius. Saturn rises at 4am in the eastern morning sky. Uranus and Neptune are poorly placed for viewing this month.
The Geminid meteor shower occurs this month with amaximum on December 12-13. This is usually one of the best showers of the year. This year the Moon sets by 11pm so the optimum observing time (after midnight) will be good and dark.
The other December shower is the Ursids. Maximum occurs on December 24 which may explain why it is poorly observed.
You can see the objects mentioned above and find out more with the Basingstoke Astronomical Society, who have their next meeting on December 9, when well-known astrophotographer, Ian King, will give a talk entitled “An Introduction to Astrophotography” The meeting will take place at Cliddesden Primary School from 7pm.
