Programme

Tonight via zoom

 Dr Nick Moskovitz , Lowell Observatory 

will be talking to us about –

using a camera system for meteor tracking

the usual joining procedure applies for those members unable to attend in person

Through the early evening into the night of Friday the 6th of December

above the S – SW horizon from approx 18.30 hrs to 22.30 hrs

the shadow of Saturn’s Moon Titan will transit across the planets disc

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

At approx 21.00 hrs on Saturday the 7th of December

above the SE horizon the planet Jupiter reaches opposition

(opposition) when the planet will be directly opposite the Sun

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

On the night of Saturday the 7th of December

as a 41% illuminated Moon starts to set below the SW horizon at approx 22.30 hrs

the planet Saturn will be approx 6.8° above & to the left of the Moon

both bodies may not be visible depending on your local horizon

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

As skies darken on Sunday the 8th of December above the S – SW horizon

at approx 20.00 hrs a first quarter Moon will be 5°  above & to the left of the planet Saturn

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

As the skies darken from 17.00 hrs above the SE – SW horizon

 on the evening of Tuesday the 10th of December

 The Jewelled handle a Clair Obscur Effect will be  visible along the Moon’s terminator

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

As skies darken from approx 17.00 hrs on the evening of Friday the 13th of December

above the E – SE horizon the a 96% illuminated Moon will be below the southern part of the Pleiades

this would possibly be best seen at approx 19.00 hrs

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

From approx 17.00 hrs as the sky darkens on Saturday the 14th of December

above the NE – SE horizon the Moon will be 4.6° above & to the right of the planet Jupiter

if you can observe this event at approx 18.00 hrs Jupiter’s Moons Europa & Io will be to the right of the planet

with Europa appearing to be above Io

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions

As darkness falls on the night of Saturday the 14th of December

the Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak with a predicted ZHR of 120

unfortunately the 99.6 illuminated Moon will be above the E – SE horizon

so some of the dimmer meteors may not be visible

if you plan to observe / image this event remember to dress for the conditions