Set your alarm clock for this naked-eye observing challenge -- Jupiter, Mercury and Mars will be very close together low in the east-southeast in twilight the next three mornings. The star Beta Scorpii will be in there too. Look about 6:30 a.m.; binoculars will help. On Sunday morning also look for Saturn, the Moon, and Regulus high in the southwest. Here's the description from my Sky events Almanac: http://joeorman.shutterace.com/Almanac2006.html December 9 (morning): Mercury, Mars and Jupiter form triangle within 1.5 degrees, very low in SE before sunrise. Mercury 0.2 degrees above Jupiter on December 10. Mars 0.8 degrees to lower right of Jupiter on December 11. December 10 (morning): Saturn 1 degree to lower right of gibbous Moon, bright star Regulus 5 degrees to left, very high in SW before sunrise. skymaps: http://spaceweather.com/images2006/09dec06/skymap_north.gif http://spaceweather.com/images2006/10dec06/skymap_north.gif http://spaceweather.com/images2006/11dec06/skymap_north.gif --Joe Joe Orman's Photo Pages: http://joeorman.shutterace.com/Gallery.html -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.
