Stargazing between clouds, drizzling rain, and fog, definitely is not much fun. If we are fortunate and have clear skies, eight o’clock means that legendary Orion is rising straight out of the horizon like a massive butterfly or Christmas gift bow. Don’t be fooled; Orion is really a huge warrior, battling a raging bull. Sounds like an Ali/Stallone/DeNiro extravaganza match.
Look for a column of three stars standing vertically, with twin pairs of stars on either side. A slender chain of light streams down angling off to the right of the three stars that form Orion’s Belt. This feature is the sword that contains the famous Orion Nebula, which contains the Horsehead Nebula and the Trapezium asterism. The pair of stars on the left as the shape emerges as a super red giant star named Betelgeuse and a blue giant star above named Bellatrix. The pair on the right side is Saiph and Rigel. The belt stars are named Alnitak, Alnilan, and Mintaka.
Above Orion look for the V shape of Taurus which is also horizontal during the early evening hours. One eye of Taurus is an orange star called Aldebaran. Located 65 light years from Earth, it is the 14th brightest in the sky. Taurus has a delicate cluster of stars on its shoulder. This is the Subaru or the Pleiades, representing seven sisters being carried off by Taurus, Zeus in disguise. In dark sky territory the view is awesome. Treat yourself to a few minutes of stargazing during the next clear night. If that night happens to be Thursday this week, the waxing gibbous moon will join two planets in a fine display. As the sun sets, Venus will be low in the west, Mars very low in the southwest. Who could ask for anything more? ME!
About 10 o ‘clock Jupiter will be posing in the south, about midway to the zenith and definitely looking like a yellow topaz or a piece of ancient amber,
You may have a neighbor who will share the view with you and even guide you in what type of telescope would best meet your needs and teach you how to find your way around the night sky when you are really prepared to invest in your own. Some longtime amateur astronomers are also willing to sell a much loved telescope to someone who develops an interest and affection for the hobby.
Driving that east west strip of highway along the water on Highway 100 at sunset or sunrise will also reveal the motion of the sun along the horizon. We are approaching winter solstice on Dec. 21, at which time the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun the most, 23°.26”. Ask your math teacher or science teacher about this if you are not sure what this means.
The South Texas Astronomical Society will be offering a family event on Saturday, Dec. 10, at Resaca de la Palma State Park and World Birding Center. The fun begins at 8 and continues until 11 as long as the weather cooperates. The park charges a $4 fee for anyone over 12. If you have any curiosity about learning about our South Texas constellations, and the international work that is ongoing at the Christina Torres Memorial Observatory, consider this your personal invitation to join in the fun. We may even catch one of those “falling stars” from the Geminids meteor shower.
Until next week-or this Saturday, KLU.
