Starwatch Newsletter Minnesota Starwatch is a tape-recorded message describing the night sky in the Midwest, which can be called by telelphone number (612) 624-2001 It is updated montly, and is produced by the Department of Astronomy, University of Minnesota 116 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Hello, this is Minnesota Starwatch for December, 2002.

Venus and Mars are in good position for observing as they are next to each other all month, rising in the predawn sky. For a more spectacular sight, check out these planets on the 1st and 30th when they form a tight triangle with the waning crescent moon. On the 6th of the month Venus will reach its maximum brightness.

Saturn rises in the evening and is located between the constellations of Taurus and Gemini. Watch Saturn on the 18th as it follows the near full moon across the sky.

Jupiter rises about four hours after Saturn between Leo and the faint constellation Cancer. See Jupiter and the Moon rise together on the22nd.

New moon occurs on the 4th and full moon on the 19th. First and third quarters are on the 11th and 26th, respectively. The Sun crosses the Winter Solstice on December 21st, marking the beginning of winter.

One of the more exciting events this month is the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks on the 14th. This meteor shower has a wide peak that lasts a day, but the best time to observe it is early in the morning of the peak day when a possible 100 meteors an hour will be visible. First seen in the mid 1800's, the Geminids are believed to be due to the crumbling asteroid Phaethon, unlike the more popular Perseid and Leonid showers caused by passing comets.

Friday night telescope viewing begins at 8:00 p.m. Please call 612/626-0034 for more information.

For those interested in the Minnesota Astronomical Society, call 651/649-4861 for information their upcoming events.

Minnesota Starwatch is available on-line at http://www.astro.umn.edu/Outreach/pub_out.html

This has been Minnesota Starwatch, produced by the University of Minnesota Astronomy Department in cooperation with WCCO Weather Center

Last Updated: Fri Nov 29 10:09:05 2002