PADAS Sky Notes

December 2023

04-20 Dec Geminid meteor shower

04 Dec Mercury at greatest elongation, look low in western horizon soon after sunset.

            Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

05 Dec Moon in its last quarter

09 Dec Venus 3.6 degrees North of the Moon, look East in the early morning before sunrise

12 Dec Mars 3.6 degrees North of the Moon

            New Moon

14-15 Dec Geminid meteor shower maximum 

14 Dec 4.4 degrees North of the Moon

16 Dec Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

17-26 Dec Ursid meteor shower

17 Dec Saturn, 2.5 degrees North of the Moon, look South from dusk

19 Dec Neptune 1.3 degrees North of the Moon

            Moon in its first quarter

22-23 Dec Ursid meteor shower maximum 

22 Dec Winter Solstice

            Jupiter 2.6 degrees South of the Moon

            Mercury at inferior conjunction,

23 Dec Uranus 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

27 Dec Full Moon, known as the Oak or Full Cold Moon

28 Dec Mercury 3.6 degrees North of Mars

November 2023

03 Nov Jupiter at opposition

05 Nov Moon in its last quarter

05-30 Nov Leonid meteor shower

06 Nov Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

09 Nov Venus 1.0 degrees South of the Moon

             PADAS Meeting Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome. 

12-13 Nov Northern Taurids Meteor shower maximum

13 Nov New Moon

            Mars 2.5 degrees North of the Moon

            Uranus at opposition

14 Nov Mercury 1.7 degrees North of the Moon

16 Nov Public night sky observing at the Jeremiah Horrocks, Observatory, Moor Park, 730 to 9:30 pm

17-18 Nov Leonids meteor shower maximum

18 Nov Mars at superior conjunction

20 Nov Moon and its first quarter

            Saturn 2.7 degrees North of the Moon

21 Nov Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

22 Nov Neptune 1.5 degrees North of the Moon    

25 Nov Jupiter 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

26 Nov Uranus 2.6 degrees South of the Moon

27 Nov Full moon, known as the Darkest Depths Moon or Mouring Moon.

OCTOBER 2023

02 Oct – 07 Nov Orionids meteor shower

            Jupiter 3.4 degrees South of the Moon

            Uranus 2.9 degrees South of the Moon

06-10 Oct Draconid meteor shower

06 Oct Moon in its last quarter

08-09 Oct Draconid meteor shower maximum 

10-11 Oct Southern Taurid meteor shower maximum

10 Oct Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

            Venus 6.5 degrees South of the Moon

12 Oct PADAS meeting Deepdale Labour Club, 7.30pm new members always welcome

14 Oct Mercury 0.7 degrees North of the Moon 

            New Moon

            Annual solar eclipse, not visible from the UK

15 Oct Mars 1.0 degrees North of the Moon

19 Oct Public Night Sky Observing at the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, Moor Park 7.30-9.30pm

20 Oct- 10 Dec Northern Taurids meteor shower 

20 Oct Mercury at superior conjunction 

21-22 Oct Orionids meteor shower maximum 

22 Oct Moon in its first quarter 

23 Oct Venus at greatest elongation 

24 Oct Saturn 2.8 degrees North of the Moon

26 Oct Neptune 1.5 degrees North of the Moon

            Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

28 Oct partial lunar eclipse

           Full Moon, known as the Hunter’s or Blood Moon

29 Oct Jupiter 3.1 degrees South of the Moon

           Mars 0.4 degrees North of Mercury, for an extended period around this time.

30 Oct Uranus 2.9 degrees South of the Moon

SEPTEMBER 2023

01 Sep alpha-Aurigid meteor shower maximum

             Neptune 1.4 degrees North of the Moon

04 Sep Jupiter 3.3 degrees South of the Moon

05 Sep Uranus 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

06 Sep Mercury at inferior conjunction

            Moon in its last quarter

10 Sep – 20 Nov Southern Taurid meteor shower

11 Sep Venus 11.4 degrees South of theMoon

11 Sep Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

14 Sep PADAS meeting 7.30pm, Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome.

13 Sep Mercury 6.0 degrees South of the Moon

15 Sep New Moon     

16 Sep Mars 0.7° South of the Moon          

19 Sep Neptune at opposition

22 Sep Mercury at greatest elongation

            Moon in its first quarter

23 Sep autumnal equinox, start of the astronomical autumn.

27 Sep Saturn, 2.7 degrees North of the Moon

28 Sep Moon, at perigee, closest to the Earth

             Neptune 1.4 degrees North of the Moon

29 Sep Full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon. This is the final super-moon of the year