What are some skywatching highlights in December 2022? The Moon sweeps past Jupiter twice this month, and actually covers Mars completely, in an event called an occultation, on December 7. The event is visible across the U.S., except for the Southeast and East Coast, where the Moon will graze closel
The Moon occasionally moves in front of all of the Solar System’s planets, including Mars. Credit: Sergio Scausotwice this month, and actually coverscompletely, in an event called an occultation, on December 7. The event is visible across the U.S., except for the Southeast and East Coast, where the Moon will graze closely past Mars. And throughout the month, you can find Pegasus, the winged stallion, high overhead in the south.
The month begins and ends with the Moon visiting the giant planets. On December 1st, find the Moon just a couple of finger-widths apart from Jupiter in the evening sky. Then, from the 25th to the 31st, look to the southwest following sunset to see an increasingly full Moon slip past Saturn and then again past Jupiter. Viewers with a clear view to the horizon will be able to search forDecember 7 brings one of those magical moments when the sky changes dramatically before your very eyes.
Of course, the Moon passes in front of stars all the time. If you’re watching through binoculars, they just blink right out. But planets are not just points of light like stars – they appear as circular little disks, so planets actually take several seconds to disappear and later reemerge. So if you’re in the viewing zone, enjoy this relatively rare opportunity to watch a bright planet being occulted by the Moon.
Pegasus is one of the largest of the 88 constellations. Its most prominent feature, and the key to finding it in the sky, is this asterism, or pattern of stars, called the Great Square. These four stars of roughly equal brightness form the central part of the horse’s body.
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