Programme

 The Geminid meteor shower

will peak at approx 13.00 Hrs on Wednesday the 14th of December

this event will be best viewed above the E-SE horizon

 over the night of Tuesday the 13th

into the morning of Wednesday the 14th of December

unfortunately there will be a 71% illuminated waning gibbous Moon to the right of the radiant

this shower has a variable ZHR with a possible maximum of 100

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

Above the S – SW horizon

From 19.00 to 22.02 Hrs on Thursday the 15th of December

Jupiter’s Largest Moon Ganymede will transit across the planets disc

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

Low above the SW horizon

Shortly after sunset at approx 15.52 Hrs on Wednesday the 21st of December

the Mag -0.4 planet Mercury  will reach it’s greatest eastern elongation

when it will be 20.1° to the left of the Sun

Mercury will set below the horizon from approx 16.40 Hrs

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

Above the S – SW horizon

From approx 16.30 – 18.30 Hrs on Monday the 26th of December

a 15% illuminated  waxing crescent Moon will be 4.5° below the planet Saturn

this pairing will be best viewed from 17.00 Hrs as the sky begins to darken

until it starts to set below the horizon from approx 18.30 hrs

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

Above the SW horizon

 On the night of Friday the 30th of December

from 20.30 – 21.30 with peak viewing at 21.00 hrs

along the terminator of  tonight’s 1st quarter Moon

the Clair Obscur effect known as the lunar V & the lunar X will be visible

the planet Jupiter will also be visible below & to the right of the Moon

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

Above the E – SE horizon

on Saturday the 31st of December

the star Aldebaran will be  below and to the right of the planet Mars

while the Pleiades (M45) will be above and to the right of Mars

mars should be equidistant from both Aldebaran & M45

the event would be best viewed after 17.30 hrs as the sky darkens

and all 3 components gain a reasonable altitude above the horizon

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