The sky dresses up for Christmas Eve, lighting up thanks to a parade of planets, the waning Moon and the shining star Sirius, while the comet Leonard will remain more secluded. To give all the indications for the observation are the experts of the Italian Astrophiles Union (Uai).
After a fleeting ‘greeting’ from comet Leonard, which after sunset will peek out to the south-west remaining very low on the horizon, the first real appointment of the evening will be the one with the planets, which will accompany us to the dinner on the eve of the evening. “Immediately after the sunset, we will be able to see Venus, Saturn and Jupiter with the naked eye,” explains Paolo Volpini of Uai. Venus, visible in the constellation of Sagittarius, will be low in the sky, now ready for the conjunction with Mercury on December 29th. Saturn, as darkness falls, will be low on the western horizon, in the constellation of Capricorn where it has remained throughout the year. And so also Jupiter, which continues its path in the constellation of Aquarius, will be low in the sky on the western horizon.
“During the evening, roughly around 10 pm, the waning moon will rise, which at midnight will be clearly visible on the eastern horizon”, adds Volpini. Where the sky will not be covered by clouds, it will be possible to admire some of the brightest stars in the entire celestial vault: Sirius, the most important star in the constellation of Canis Major, the red Aldebaran in Taurus, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, Procione in Dog Minor and Capella in Auriga. To the south-east there will also be the unmissable “Orion, the most beautiful winter constellation, characterized by the three stars aligned in the belt and by the luminous stars Betelgeuse, Rigel, Bellatrix and Saiph, which outline it”, recalls the Uai. “With small instruments, even good binoculars, it is not difficult to identify the famous M 42 nebula, located in the sword, just below the belt”.
.
Source From: Ansa
I am an author at Global happenings and I mostly cover automobile news. In my time working in the automotive industry, I have developed a keen interest in the latest developments and trends. My writing skills have also allowed me to share my knowledge with others through articles and blog posts.
