EYES TO THE SKY: Late afternoon – early evening planets, moon and Fomalhaut

November 28 – December 11, 2016

Mt. Washington — An ideal week for planet and stargazing unfolds as November turns to December. Stargazing begins in the afternoon with the setting of the star of our solar system, the sun, as it approaches its most southerly reach on the horizon, nearly directly southwest. Sunset on the 28^th is at 4:24 p.m. and, from December 1 through the 5^th, at 4:22 p.m. The very earliest sunsets of the year, 4:21 p.m., are from December 6 through 12. Cinching evening darkness, new moon falls on the 29^th, followed by evenings enhanced by a waxing crescent moon that sets early leading to long, dark, moonless nights. First quarter (half) moon is on the 7^th.

Soon after sunset, in the south-southwest, the star-like point of light that is Venus appears rather high now in the softly lit, pastel sky. Twenty minutes after sunset, Venus is about 20 degrees above the horizon, which is two stacked fists extended at arm’s length. Venus, also known as the Evening Star, appears higher and brighter every day. The crescent moon arcs toward the goddess planet on December 2 and floats above it on the 3^rd. See Venus’ crystalline light, second only in radiance to the moon in our skies, set into the southwest horizon at 7:14 p.m. on the 28^th and about two minutes later every evening.

December 7 – 20, 45 minutes to 1 hour after sunset. Diagram courtesy of EarthSky.org

Observing Mercury, the smallest of the planets and the one closest to the sun, presents quite a different adventure. On the 30^th, half an hour after sunset, we’ll be straining to locate it in the southwest four degrees above the horizon. A delicate crescent accompanies Mercury on that day, when the planet sets at 5:20 p.m. and moonset is at 5:40 p.m. Binoculars are recommended. The little planet will brighten and appear higher in evening twilight as the week progresses. It is well worth searching it out during its brief appearance in our skies.

Fiery Mars lines up with Venus and Mercury on a diagonal from top to bottom. The moon is below Mars on the 4^th and above the red planet on the 5^th. To the left and below Mars, a bright star, Fomalhaut, catches the eye. Connect Mars, Fomalhaut and Venus to form a wide, isosceles triangle.

Resource:

Want to pronounce Fomalhaut and your other favorite star names?
http://www.starrynighteducation.com/resources_pronunciation.html