The December Sky

Paul Curtin

Early winter abounds in interesting sights at both celestial polar regions, while the intervening regions display a marked increase in noteworthy objects when compared to the preceding months.

Cassiopeia, western Camelopardalis and Perseus merit careful scrutiny. Cassiopeia contains a number of open clusters and rich Milky Way fields. Use binoculars to view the Double Cluster in northern Perseus. Then continue eastward and wander among the sparser, yet still charming, star strings of Camelopardalis.

Hanging alone in a dark region is M45, the Pleiades. This striking open cluster is one of the season's showpieces. Compare its bright blue stars to those of the V- shaped cluster due east, the Hyades. In very dark skies one may glimpse some of the reflection nebula surrounding the young members of M45.

Eridanus meanders from the foot of Orion to the deep south, ending at Achernar. Cradled by Eridanus is Fornax, which contains a dense cluster of galaxies. Though none are especially bright, many can be glimpsed together in a single wide-field view.

The Large Magellanic Cloud, the most accessible galactic structure after the Milky Way, contains a huge number of deep sky objects to explore.


The Planets in December

Mercury can be observed by northerners just before dawn in early December.

Venus is a striking object in the west after sunset.

Mars begins to fade this month but will still stand out in the evening sky.

Jupiter is a very bright morning object.

Saturn rises in the evening and can be observed throughout the night.

Bibliography

Burnham, Robert Jr., Burnham's Celestial Handbook, New York: Dover, 1978.

Gupta, R. (ed.), Observers Handbook 2005, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004.

Jones, K. G. (ed.), Webb Society Deep-Sky Observers Handbook, Volume. 3, Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1980.

Kepple, G. R., Sanner, G. W., The Night Sky Observers Guide, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 1999.

Tirion, W., Rappaport, B., Remaklus, W., Uranometria Deep Sky Atlas, Richmond, Virginia: Willman-Bell, 2000.

Webb, T. W., Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, New York: Dover, 1962.