The Full Moon is Sunday December 15. In the evening Venus is coming closer to Saturn. Jupiter , Saturn and Venus are visible in the evening sky. Jupiter is at opposition and is visible all night long. Jupiter is close to the nearly full Moon on the 14th. In the morning Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars is close to the  Moon on the 18th and 19th. The Geminid meteor shower peaks on the morning of the 14th, but moonlight interferes. The Full Moon is Sunday December 15. Western evening sky on Saturday, December 14 as seen from Adelaide at 21:31 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, c ..read more

The northern horizon at 3:13 am ACDST as seen from Adelaide on Saturday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). The northern horizon at 1:46am AEST as seen from Brisbane on on Saturday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent l ..read more

The First Quarter Moon is Monday December 8. There is an opportunity to see the Lunar X in daytime.  In the evening Venus leaves Sagittarius behind and is coming closer to Saturn. Saturn is close to the first quarter Moon and there is a daytime occultation of Saturn as seen from Darwin. Jupiter is now visible in the evening sky along with Saturn and Venus. In the morning Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars remains within a binocular distance of the Beehive cluster. The First Quarter Moon is Monday December 8. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 12th ..read more

The New Moon is Sunday December 1.  In the evening Venus leaves Sagittarius behind and is close to the thin crescent moon on December 5.  Mercury is lost in the twilight. Saturn is in the north western sky coming closer to Venus. Jupiter is now visible in the evening sky along with Saturn and Venus. In the morning Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars is close to the Beehive cluster from the 30th November to 3rd December. The New Moon is Sunday December 1. Western evening sky on Thursday, December 5 as seen from Adelaide at 21:23 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to e ..read more

The First Quarter Moon is Saturday November 9.  Late on the 8th is a good chance to see the Lunar X in telescopes. In the evening Venus has left the Scorpion with Mercury taking its place. Mercury is close to Antares on the 10th. Venus is close to the Lagoon Nebula on the 13th. On the 11th Saturn is close to the waxing gibbous Moon. In the morning Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars has left Gemini and is now in Cancer. The First Quarter Moon is Saturday November 9. Late on the 8th is a good chance to see the Lunar X in telescopes.  Western evening sky on Sunday, Novemb ..read more

The New Moon is Friday November 1. Comet C/2023 A3 is rising into darker skies, but fading and this may be the last week to see it in binoculars. Venus is leaving the the Scorpion with Mercury taking its place. Mercury is close to Delta Scorpii on the 4th and 5th. The thin crescent moon is close to Mercury on the 3rd and Venus on the 5th. Saturn is in the northern skies. Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars forms a line with the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Mars is leaving Gemini for Cancer. The New Moon is Friday November 1. Western evening sky on Sunday, November 3 as seen ..read more

The New Moon is Thursday, October 3. Daylight savings stars October 6. Saturn is just past opposition, and is visible all night long. Venus is near the crescent moon on 5 and 6 October, and is also close to the star ?2 Librae. Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart and Mars is in the heart of Gemini. Comet C/2023 A3 is too close to the Sun to be seen after October 5, although we might get a glimpse of its tail by weeks end. It will reappear in the evening twilight next week. The New Moon is Thursday, October 3. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth on the 3rd as well. Dayl ..read more

The New Moon is Thursday, October 3. Saturn is just past opposition, and is visible all night long. Venus draws away from the bright star Spica heading towards Libra. Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart and Mars is in the heart of Gemini. Comet C/2023 A3 may be seen low in the morning twilight, it is closest to the Sun on September 27. The New Moon is Thursday, October 3. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth on the 3rd as well. Western evening sky on Saturday, September 28 as seen from Adelaide at 19:12 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   ..read more

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday November 23.  In the evening Venus is in the "Handle" of the Teapot of Sagittarius.  Mercury begins to sink back to the horizon. Saturn is in the north western sky. Jupiter is now visible in the evening sky along with Saturn and Venus. In the morning Mars and Jupiter continue to draw apart. Mars comes close to the Beehive cluster on the 28th. The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday November 23. Western evening sky on Friday, November 22 as seen from Adelaide at 21:09 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).    Venus is readily visi ..read more

The Lunar X and V (indicated) as visible in telescopic views. Click to embiggen for a clrear view. Western evening sky on Friday, November 8 as seen from Adelaide at 23:19 ACDST Western evening sky on Friday, November 8 as seen from Brisbane at 22:49 ACDST Pareidolia (the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful, image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern) abounds on the moon, the “Man in the Moon” and “the lunar Rabbit” are the most famous examples we can see every full moon, caused by the placement of the dark lava planes and the brighter uplands.  Placemen ..read more