Borrego Springs Dark Sky Coalition

Question: On January 21, will I be able to view the conjunction of the two planets, Mars and Uranus, with binoculars from Pasadena, or should I plan to head to the mountains or desert? Answer: Yes, you can see this conjunction of Mars and Uranus from Pasadena. If you go out around 5:30 p.m. on Jan 21st, Mars is just south of directly overhead (the zenith). Mars will still be bright enough to see even in light-polluted skies. Uranus is just to the lower left of Mars, or... to the south and east of Mars. Uranus is visible to the naked eye in dark skies such as Borrego Springs, but not in urban light pollution. However, binoculars will show Uranus nicely as a bright, slightly bluish star. It's the brightest star near Mars so you can't miss it. Depending on the binoculars, you will probably be able to see Mars and Uranus in the same field of view! The moon will be a few degrees to the left of this lovely planetary pairing. It really is a great opportunity to see Uranus, the 7th planet from the Sun, since it isn't easy to find this ice giant of a planet! See more

This one from the Griffith Observatory...with rings of Saturn.

Tonight through the telescope, Jupiter with its moons, and Saturn.

Shared from Susan and Larry: Susan sent this shot of the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn the night before they get even cozier, tonight. This amazing image was taken using her iPhone and my Celestron birding scope. The rings of Saturn are discernible as well as at least three of Jupiter’s moons.

Rosette Nebula, Deep Space Astrophotography by Bill Brown.

Horsehead Nebula, by Bill Brown.

Deep space photography by Bill Brown, who presented the ABDNHA webinar in November sharing his photographs. Bode & Cigar galaxies.

Dec. 21, Mon. - Winter Solstice 2:02 a.m.; Conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn. See note & photo below. Dec. 22, Tues. - Ursid Meteor Shower. See note and photo below. Dec. 29, Tues. - Full Moon rises at 4:32 p.m. Early Jan. - Sunrise 6:49 a.m., Sunset 4:49 p.m. PST ... Jupiter and Saturn have been getting closer and closer in the evening sky and setting earlier as fall turns to winter. On the night of December 21, the two planets will be just one-tenth of a degree apart and would fit into a low-power eyepiece in just about any telescope. The two planets have not been this close and observable since March 4, 1226, so you don’t want to miss it! No one alive today will ever see them get this close again. (See photo.) The Ursid meteor shower is often neglected due to the fact it peaks just before Christmas. Observers may see 5 to 10 Ursids per hour during the early morning of December 22. There have been occasional outbursts when rates have exceeded 25 per hour. Unlike for the Geminids this year, the moon will be just past first quarter and will be some hindrance. While the meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, looking toward the northern horizon, where you will find the Big Dipper in the sky, will increase your chances of seeing these Ursids. (See photo.) December and January are good months to view the Orion Nebula. This huge region of gas and dust is producing new stars at a prodigious rate and is visible to the naked eye. Orion is a well known constellation both in fact and myth, and was noted by our ancient ancestors worldwide. If you can find the iconic Belt of Orion, just look below the belt to see the hunter’s sword marked by what appears to be three stars running roughly north-south. The middle star looks fuzzy, and that’s because it is no star at all, but the nebula! Naked eye, binoculars, telescopesthe nebula is a grand sight!