Pleiades. Photo by Brooke Edwards.
By Brooke Edwards
Winter is on the way and with it comes a light show of the celestial kind. As night falls faster and darkness lasts longer, the coming months become some of the best for stargazing. If we can catch a break in lake-effect clouds, we’ll be able to enjoy many cosmic sights.
Here is what you can expect to see during these earlier evenings.
Jupiter
After sunset, Jupiter will be shining brightly in the east. A good pair of binoculars will reveal a few of its many moons appearing as tiny “dots” around the planet. If you want to go further and see the bands on the active gas planet, you will need a small telescope. Throughout the night, Jupiter will continue to rise into the sky before setting in the west during the early morning hours.
Saturn
Look to the south any time after sunset to see Saturn shining as an unwinking star of the show. If you want to see detail, such as the rings, you will need a small telescope. If you have one, it is worth setting it up to look at this stunning planet.
The Orion Constellation (The Hunter)
This unmistakable constellation rises in the east after 9 p.m. and graces the sky all night. Characterized by its three-star “belt,” this seasonal constellation is difficult to miss. Its right shoulder, the star Betelgeuse, flickers with a red hue. Betelgeuse is expected to go supernova, exploding in a dazzling display of light, but astronomers cannot predict when. It’s likely this event will not happen in our lifetimes. When it does, what a fantastic show that will be.
The Orion Nebula
In the middle of the lower half of Orion is what appears to be a star. Look closer with a telescope to reveal the Orion Nebula. This stellar nursery lies 1,500 light-years from Earth. Though it will appear white in color to your eyes, when viewed with powerful magnification it is quite a colorful sight.
Sirius
Just below and to the left of Orion is his canine companion, the Canis Major constellation. Glowing on Canis Major’s “chest” like a bright I.D. tag is the star Sirius. Sirius, also called the dog star, is hard to miss as it appears to rapidly flicker in multiple colors.
Pleiades
Follow up, up and to the right of Orion. A bright and fuzzy feature will catch your eye. In the Taurus constellation lies the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters. Binoculars will bring into view seven stars, yet there are many in the cluster – more than 1,000. Astronomers also identify this cluster as Messier 45.
Geminid Meteor Shower
Peaking around Dec. 13-14 this year, The Geminids provide us with a spectacular shower of meteors in December. Views depend on clear skies and less moonlight. The moon will be absent at peak viewing times this year, so grab your warmest gear and get yourselves outside on the thirteen or fourteenth to see upwards of 120 meteors per hour. Look up any time there’s a dark, cloudless sky between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24, and with a little patience, you’ll see some meteors.
Stay warm, and happy stargazing!
Brooke Edwards is a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador. She lives in Manistee and has given area presentations and hosted night-sky viewings at the Fifth Avenue beach and Orchard Beach State Park. Follow her on Facebook @Brooke-Edwards-Solar-System-Ambassador.
Read more stories about Space and Astronomy HERE and more stories by or about Brooke Edwards HERE.
