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2023 concludes with a great month for stargazing. The glow of several bright planets are obvious candidates for the ‘Christmas Star’, and the Geminid meteor shower, the year’s best meteor shower, will also be a festive show.
But the strangest sky event this month may be the occultation of Betelgeuse by an asteroid. Betelgeuse is a star in the Orion constellation that is famous for being likely to become the next supernova in our local universe.
Sky watching highlights for November 2023 include:
1. Venus and the Crescent Moon
Date and time: Saturday, December 9th, 1 hour before sunrise
Location: Southeast horizon
This time of year is tough for most people, but those who can wake up an hour before dawn are rewarded with some of the most beautiful celestial views. If you look to the southeast, you’ll see a thin waning moon with a brightness of 13%, just 3 degrees from Venus.
2. Solar eclipse of Betelgeuse
Date and time: December 11, 2023, approximately 8:17 PM EST
Location: Central Asia, southern Europe, Florida, southeastern skies of Mexico.
Only North Americans in a small area of Florida will be able to see it, but tonight an asteroid called 319 Leona will pass in front of Betelgeuse, casting a shadow on Earth’s surface and blocking its light for a few seconds. According to the Sun, it could cause a “Ring of Fire” annular solar eclipse. sky and telescope.
NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), MH Wong (University of California, Berkeley), and the OPAL team.
3. The “King of the Planets” shines as the “Star of Bethlehem”
When: Overnight, Monthly
Location: Southern sky
This year, the “King of Planets” Jupiter will shine brightest in the night sky, creating the bright “Star of Bethlehem” or “Christmas Star.” Shining at magnitude -2.8 (much brighter than Venus, which is only -4.2 this month), Jupiter will be in the constellation Aries, high above the eastern horizon, just after sunset. On the nights of December 21st and 22nd, the waxing moon will fall close to Jupiter.
4. Peak of the Geminid meteor shower
Date: December 13/14, 2023
Location: Zenten
Up to 150 colorful meteors could be visible from the northern hemisphere tonight as the annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. The Gemini constellation, which looks like shooting stars, rises high in the sky before midnight, so this meteor shower can be seen well before midnight or close to its peak. All you need is the naked eye. However, clear skies and a warm jacket will help a lot.
The stars of “Winter Loop”.
Stellarium
5. “Winter Circle” is back
Date and time: After sunset in late December 2023
Location: East southeast sky
This giant hexagonal pattern joins the five brightest and closest stars in the entire night sky, giving you a unique, wide-eyed perspective when you spot it. We start from Sirius, low on the horizon, and move south to Rigel, below the Orion belt. Next, go up to the orange Aldebaran (not to be confused with the red planet Mars, which is a little further south), climb again to the bright white Capella, then return east to his two stars in the constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux . On your way back to Sirius, dive towards the horizon and you’ll find Procyon. The winter circle has been completed!
6. “The cold moon rises”
Date and time: Sunset, December 26, 2023
Location: Towering to the east
The 13th and final full moon of 2023, aptly named the “Cold Moon,” will be best visible from North America as it rises in the eastern sky at dusk on December 26th. A full “cold moon” that appears on the horizon will appear a beautiful orange color for about 15 minutes.
I wish you clear skies and big eyes.
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