Planetary Highlights:
Jupiter
This week most of the action is centered around Jupiter as the south equatorial band continues to darken and the "Great Red Spot" better known to us earthlings as not just the storm of the century but instead the storm of the last four centuries! Imagine living on a solid surface on Jupiter and listening to the daily weather report " High winds aloft gusts at ground level around 400 to 500 miles per hour. Winds should dissapte and then return in just a few days. Storm to continue for several more hundred earth years." Here is a picture taken by an amatuer of the start of the return of the band.
The Red Spot crosses the central Meridian of Jupiter tonight at 10.18pm EST.
Check it out if you can and weather willing.
Mars
While we obviously have a lot to discuss about Mars that will be saved for a later time when it is in better view. However Mars is being occulted or covered by a setting crescent moon. You will need a telescope and a viewing point with an unobstructed view of the horizon. Mars is a fairly bright red dot. It will be covered up by the moon for just about an hour.
Mercury
Tiny Mercury can be seen this first two weeks of December. Look in the Southwest sky just after sunset (30 mins.) and you will see a bright disk that is 60% lit. Use your telescope for best viewing. Mercury is of course the planet closest to the Sun so it like Venus can either be seen at sunset or just before sunrise.
A photo of the planet Mercury
Orion and Lunar Eclipse
I am very interested to see how many readers of this article went out and looked at Orion's nebula? Let me know your comments.Because this nebula is so thoroughly studied I thought I might fill in more details in our next installment. Just a taste we are actually studying stars inside the nursery that are less than 1 million years old.
Remember, Keep Looking Up!
Merrill