THE HEAVENS IN DECEMBER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 62, 6 December 1930, Page 22

THE HEAVENS IN DECEMBER

NOTES FOR THE CASUAL OBSERVER

By

"Kappa Crucis.”

The diagram given above is a sketch prepared for the latitude of Wellington of the principal constellations visible over the entire sky at 9.48 .on the night of December 15. • The stars will be in about the same position at 10.30 to-night, at 9.20 p.m. on December 22, and at 8.15 p.m. on ‘December 29. The directions north, south, east and west are marked on the circumference of the diagram. When the sketch is being used to find a constellation, it must be turned so that the direction in which the observer is facing is a>t the bottom of the diagram nearest to him. From the horizor upward the stars will then appear as shown on the sketch from nearest point to the central cross which marks the zenith or overhead point. Although many constellations are shown quite boldly near the horizon, it is unlikely that all will be clearly observable, since at low altitudes haze and general atmospheric conditions affect the brightness of stars considerably. The constellations away from the edge, however, will be perfectly plain. Skyward—Mainly to the North-east. For the casual observer, the north-east-ern sky in December is the most Interestting part of the heavens, just as last month the eastern sky held most attraction. The reason is not far to seek. The magnificent track of sky on which are set the constellations Taurus, Orion and Canis Major, was last month involved with haze and the eastern horizon. Now, however, at the time for which the circular sketch is prepared, this area of the heavens stands out more clearly. In addition to this region •there is another extremely interesting one in the south-eastern sky where the big ship, Argo, of which Canopus is the principal star, can be seen. Looking first to the north, however, three bright stars in the constellation Andromeda —really a northern constellation —lie along the horizon, rather to the west of the northern point. Above these is the small northern Triangle, and above that again the zodiacal constellation Aries. A few stars in Perseus are above the horizon, due north, with the tiny Pleiades group above and to the right. As was the case last month, the view is remarkably fine when one stands facing due north-east. Orion is now fairly well risen in the sky, with Rigel the uppermost of its four main stars, and Betelgeuze the lowest. Above Orion is the small clearly defined constellation Lepus, and to the right of it is Canis Major, with its flaming orb, Sirius. Below and slightly to the left of Sirius is Procyon, the bright star of Canis Minor. The constellation Gemini is intersected by the horizon below Orion, but some of its brighter stars can be seen under Betelgeuze.. The principal stars of the constellation, Pollux and Castor, have not yet risen. The planet Jupiter has been above the horizon for about a quarter of an hour, and is, of course, very low in the sky. Its position can be noted in reference to major constellations in the vicinity, anff the planet can be found later in the evening. Between Orion and the Pleiades is the Hyades group with the bright star Aldebaran. Both the Plerades and the Hyades are parts of the constellation Taurus.. High in the south-eastern sky Canopus is shining out. The large constellations Puppis, Vela and Carina, are spread out

below, and in the vicinity of Canopus. The Southern Cross ip east of south, and the pointers nearly due south, with Triangulum above and to the right. Ara is to the right of the triangle, but almost on the horizon. High up in the southern sky is Hydrus—not a particularly striking group—with Achernar, the principal star in Eridanus, above and to the right of its uppermost star. The remainder, of the widely-spread Eridanus group is scattered about the zenith. The star Alpha Pavonis stands out in an uninteresting south-western sky. Capricornus, a member of the zodiac, has Bunk rather low. Grus is higher up, and Phoenix still higher, not far below the zenith. To the right of Grus is the bright star Fomalhaut. Pegasus is now involved with the north-west horizon, but it can still be picked out, especially if looked for a little earlier than the time for which the diagram is prepared. The constellation Pisces lies above it, and Cetus still further above. Jupiter and Mars.

Ths small diagram is a sketch of a portion of the northern sky visible at 3.30 aon. on December 16. It is given in order that the planets Jupiter and Mars may be shown. The bright star, Procyon, which is the principal star in Canis Minor, can be located below and to the right of Sirius. Jupiter is some distance below Procyon, with Castor and Pollux still further down. Away to the right of Jupiter is the planet Mars, with Regulus some distance further, and higher in the sky. Regulus is the brightest star in Leo, and Mars adds another bright point to the well-known sickle.

Although the centre of the diagram is about due north at 3.30 a.m. on December 16, the greater part of the same region can be found low down in the north-east-ern sky. By turning the sketch slightly to the right, it will still represent approximately the disposition of the stars and planets.

Brilliant Morning Star. The planet Venus is now a morning star, and increasing in brightness every day. It should be a magnificent object in the south-eastern sky before sunrise toward the end of the month, when it reaches maximum brilliancy. Occultations are not thrilling this month, although tie moon will make a determined onslaught on the star Beta Tauri (marked in the circular sketch) after midnight to-night. Shooting stars may be seen low in the north and north-eastern sky late at night in the middle of the month. These will be members of the Geminids shower, a fairly regular one, due about December 10.