Today:
Venus has progressed nicely in the southwest, edging higher and therefore visible in the darker part of the evening skies. Accompanying Venus, well to its left sparkles the less-well known star Fomalhaut, and directly above it shines Saturn. As Venus edges higher, Saturn slips lower, foreshadowing their meeting next month in January.
Thursday:
A waxing Gibbous Moon nearly obscures its celestial company with its glow. Barely visible, to the Moon’s left, lie the cluster of stars known as the Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades. Naturally, tonight would not be the ideal night for viewing, but next week, without the Moon, they’re a curious patch of stars, seen even better through binoculars.
Friday:
The Geminid Meteor shower reaches its peak overnight tonight. This is the year’s most prolific displays of meteors, producing over 100 shooting stars per hour. The Twins of Gemini are one third of the way up by 9 o’clock, which means the meteors are active all night long. However, viewing this year will be hampered by the nearly Full Moon, 90 percent illuminated, within the constellation Taurus, the Bull.