2018 Week 50: (December 9-December 15)

In the sky this week we have a prolific meteor shower peaking.  The annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its best on Thursday Night-Friday Morning!  Also, there will be a great free event coming up at the Calgary Public Library.  A lecture entitled: The Christmas Star, An Astronomer's Perspective will be given on December 20, 2018 starting at 7pm.  A link to this event is given below.  Don't miss out!

The Christmas Star, An Astronomer's Perspective

The sights in the sky this week are presented in the chart below.

Date	Event
December 13	RASC on Global Morning (07:40)
December 14	Geminid Meteors Peak
December 14	Mars 4°N of Moon
December 15	First Quarter
December 15	Mercury Greatest Elongation West

Join the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada on the Global Morning Show at 7:40am on December 13 where Roger Nelson will be detailing Comet 46P/Wirtanen. 

This year's Geminids are looking to be great.  The moon will set a few minutes before 11pm removing the biggest natural source of light pollution in the sky.  This will allow for prime viewing of the Geminids if you can escape artificial sources of light pollution.  On the same night the Moon will be paired up with Mars in the sky and you will be able to view both through a pair of binoculars.  The next evening the Moon will reach its First Quarter phase.

If you are a morning person you should try to find Venus, Mercury and Jupiter.  Venus is unmissable in the southeastern sky as it will appear as a very bright looking 'star'.  Mercury rises around 6:30am, two hours before the Sun.  Jupiter will rise 45 minutes later and be visible to the keen observer who can navigate the sky during twilight.  The map below shows how the southeast sky will appear at 7:30am on December 15.

Planets - December 15

The Delta Heavy launch last week was stopped with 7 seconds left in the countdown.  I have not seen such an event and was riveted.  Live launches are always a wonder to watch and it's a shame I don't see more of them.

There is one launch scheduled for next week out of the North island of New Zealand.  It will be carrying several CubeSats into orbit for NASA.  I have yet to watch a launch from this location and am looking forward to it.  All launches can be watched live from the link below.

https://spaceflightnow.com/

Date	Event
December 12	Electron - VCLS 1 (21:00)

Stay tuned for more great astronomical events as we approach the end of the year!