• Tim Johnson

Last Chance Four Planets

This weekend is probably your last chance to see all four visible planets lined up in the southwestern sky right after sunset.

Venus, the brightest, is low in the southwestern sky and right next to it is the fainter planet Mercury. This is low. For most of the autumn and since Thanksgiving, Venus has been high in the southwestern sky after sunset. Not this weekend, Venus has dropped and is now too close to the horizon for most to see.

The planets Jupiter and Saturn are easier to find. Jupiter is the second brightest planet and it is high above the horizon after sunset. Under it you’ll find Saturn. The crescent moon is close to Saturn on Monday night.

These four planets are a sight to enjoy and to treasure in the last hours of the old year and the first hours of the New Year.
Mars is happily by itself low in the southeastern sky before sunrise.

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., Dec. 31 7:08 4:20
Sat., Jan. 1 7;08 4:21
Sun., Jan. 2 7:08 4:22
Mon., Jan. 3 7:08 4:23
Tues., Jan. 4 7:08 4:24
Wed., Jan. 5 7:08 4:25
Thurs., Jan. 6 7:08 4:26
Fri., Jan. 7 7:08 4:27
Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
Dec. 23 55 28 0.07
Dec. 24 33 26 *0.02
Dec. 25 44 26 *0.06
Dec. 26 49 36 0.33
Dec. 27 42 31 T
Dec. 28 42 33 0.07
Dec. 29 48 38 0.04

 

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 43º F

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