Space News: What’s up for December
What's up for December? Venus, Saturn, the crescent Moon and Mars make close passes at dusk and dawn throughout the month.
December starts off with a lovely string of pearls — with Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the crescent Moon forming a lineup at dusk on Dec. 1.
You'll need a pretty clear view toward the horizon to see Jupiter, which is setting soon after the Sun these days. Look for an unobscured view toward the southwest about half an hour after sunset.
In the middle of December, watch each evening from Dec. 9 through 13, as Venus and Saturn just skim past each other, with brilliant, cloud-swaddled planet Venus rising higher in the sky each day.
Early risers can catch a glimpse of the Red Planet being visited by the slim crescent of the Moon on Dec. 22 and 23. To see them, look toward the southeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. You'll see the Moon above Mars on Dec. 22. By Dec. 23, it's moved below Mars and a bit toward the east.
At the end of December, you won't want to miss a dazzling pair-up of Venus and the crescent Moon.
On Dec. 28, look low in the southwest sky at dusk to find Venus hovering in twilight just above a slim lunar crescent.
NASA's space missions explore the Moon and the planets of our solar system to answer fundamental science questions about where we come from, where we're going and whether we're alone.
Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.