Midmonth Check-In: December 2025 and Events of 2026

                      

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

     This December has been unusually warm in Utah, giving stargazers of all kinds the chance to enjoy the night sky. I have relished viewing Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon with my unaided eyes, and of course, my favorite winter constellations. I missed the occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon due to cloudy weather, as well as the Geminid Meteor Shower. I am hopeful for the clear nights to continue so I can enjoy the night sky for the remainder of the year. 

    The Winter Solstice is fast approaching, meaning the length of the night will begin to decrease. This occurs on the 21st. The following night, the Ursid Meteor Shower will peak, bringing the chance to see approximately 15 meteors per hour. The Moon will not interfere with this shower. Observers should bundle up and look towards Polaris for their chance to spot as many meteors as possible. 

Upcoming Events of 2026 

      This past year has brought many incredible sights to the night sky. Jupiter and Saturn reached opposition, giving observers fantastic views of these gas giants. Saturn's rings were tilted so that they appeared edge-on for Earthbound observers. This will continue over the next several months, so if an observer missed it during 2025, they will still have the opportunity in 2026. Several comets graced our night sky, including an interstellar comet that is still passing through our solar system. 

    The upcoming year will bring many more exciting and spectacular events for observers to enjoy and look forward to. Of course, the planets will all be visible, with Mercury oscillating between the evening and predawn sky. Venus will dominate the evening sky beginning in February and continuing through September. It will then return to the morning sky in November and remain there through the end of the year. Mars will be a great target near the end of 2026 when it shines at nearly -0.3 magnitude. While the Red Planet won't be at its best, it may still offer some surface details to telescope observers in December. 

    Jupiter will reach opposition in January and be at its best in early 2026. This King of the Planets will remain a great target throughout the year, except during its solar conjunction in July. Even a small telescope or binoculars will reveal the large Galilean Moons. Saturn will be a spectacular target for 10 of the 12 months of 2026. The exception will be March and April, when the Ringed World will go through solar conjunction. A small telescope will reveal the rings and even the largest of its moons.

    Uranus will be visible during much of 2026. This ice giant will be found in the evening sky during the first four months of the year. It will then be lost in the Sun's glow during its solar conjunction in May and most of June. It will then reappear in the morning sky in July and eventually return to the evening sky. Neptune will stay close to Saturn during the first four months of 2026 until it passes the Ringed World and rises earlier. It can be found in the morning sky beginning in April, but it will be difficult to spot until May. 

    Utahns will be treated to a Total Lunar Eclipse during March and a Partial Lunar Eclipse in August. For those able and willing to travel, there will be an Annular Solar Eclipse in February and a Total Solar Eclipse in August. 

    There are a few great meteor showers this year that will peak under Moon-free or nearly Moon-free skies. The first will be the Lyrids in April during the First Quarter Moon Phase. The much-anticipated Perseids will peak in August during a New Moon. The Perfect time for a meteor shower! Finally, the Geminids in December will peak during the First Quarter Moon Phase, allowing observers to catch up to 150 meteors per hour!

    Comets are unpredictable but often grace our night sky with their long tails. Hopefully, 2026 will bring some bright comets and perhaps even one bright enough to see with the unaided eye! The Sun reached solar maximum in 2025 but still remains very active. Like comets, the Sun can be unpredictable and may result in the Northern Lights appearing over Utah again.

    Enjoy 2026 and don't forget to look up!      

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: December 2025

                 Introduction

   November has been unusually warm this year in Utah. Typically, we have snow by now, but that hasn't happened this year. As I write this, the weather forecast says snow is on the horizon, but I've heard that before. As much as I enjoy the mostly clear skies for stargazing, I also enjoy having snow during the winter months! During the last half of November, I have enjoyed gazing at the gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, as well as the winter constellations, with Orion being my favorite. 

    In addition to the gas giants and wonderful winter constellations, December will bring the return of the Geminid Meteor Shower, one of the best of the year. This month, the Winter Solstice occurs, marking the start of longer hours of daylight. During one special night for Utahns, the Pleiades will disappear from view! 

                      

Mercury

   Mercury will be at its best this month for Northern Hemisphere observers. This tiny planet will be visible in the morning sky throughout December. Mercury will rise about an hour before the Sun on the 1st, giving observers some time to find it. It will reach its greatest western elongation on the 7th, shining at magnitude -0.4. On the 17th, the thin Crescent Moon will join Mercury in the morning sky. Arcturus and Spica can be found rising above the horizon before Mercury. On the 22nd, Antares can be seen rising with Mercury, but the pair may be a challenge to spot in the morning twilight. 

  

Venus

   Venus is approaching the Sun from our vantage point and will be lost from view during December. This hot planet will return in January.  

    

Mars

    

    Mars, like Venus, is approaching the Sun from our vantage point and will be lost from view for the next couple of months. It will return to the morning sky in spring 2026.

       

Jupiter

Saturn

    Brilliant Jupiter will rise above the Rocky Mountains approximately four hours after sunset on the 1st. By month's end, this giant planet will rise about two hours earlier, making it visible about two hours after sunset. Orion the Hunter will rise to the right (south) of Jupiter during the month, bringing many DSOs to view. As always, several Galilean Moon transits can be observed throughout the month. I encourage interested observers to use the Moons of Jupiter and Saturn app for Android or Gas Giants for iOS devices to determine when these transits occur at their location. Both of these apps are free. If an observer is interested in a paid, more comprehensive app, I recommend Stellarium Plus for Android and iOS, as well as SkySafari Pro for iOS. The Earth's own Moon will pass close by Jupiter on the 7th this month.  

    Saturn is a spectacular target during December. It is already high in the sky after sunset. This places the ringed planet in the best place in the sky to minimize light pollution and atmospheric interference. Although the rings are not at their maximum tilt from our perspective, they are still visible and quite remarkable to see nearly edge-on. Of course, I speak from experience. I was able to view this planet a short time ago through my new scope, and it certainly did not disappoint. The rings and a couple of its moons were easily visible. If the skies are clear, bundle up to view the gas giants! As mentioned in previous posts, Moons of Jupiter and Saturn, Gas Giants, Stellarium Plus, and SkySafari Pro are great tools for identifying Moon transits, among other things, in the night sky. The Earth's own moon will pass close to Saturn on the 26th.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

   Uranus will continue its reign over the stars of Taurus. This ice giant won't appear as bright as the major stars of this constellation, but when viewed through a telescope or binoculars, it will show a blue-green disk, unlike the stars. The Pleiades (M45) can be found just above this planet. The Earth's Moon will pass close by on the 3rd and 31st.

  Neptune will follow Saturn in the night sky during December. The pair can be found roughly 4° apart throughout the month, with Neptune being to the upper left of Saturn after the Sun dips below the horizon. The Earth's Moon can be found close by on the 26th.

The Pleiades Disappear While Geminids Shine

    Utahns are in for a treat this month! We will be ideally positioned to watch the Moon block the Pleiades from view. This special, unique opportunity will take place on the 3rd of this month. Beginning at 5:30 PM, the Moon will start to pass in front of the first star of M45. The Moon will continue to pass between M45 and the Earth, blocking more stars from view of this open star cluster. The entire event will last about four hours. No special equipment will be required; however, a pair of binoculars or a telescope with a low-power eyepiece will enhance the views.
    
    The next major event during December will occur on the 14th. The Geminid Meteor Shower returns! While the Perseids are one of the favorite meteor showers of the year due to warmer weather, the Geminids produce more meteors per hour under ideal conditions. An observer will have to bundle up to enjoy the show, however. With up to 150 meteors per hour and the chance for several bright meteors, I encourage observers to get out and look up! There will be a last-quarter Moon in the sky, but it should only wash out the faintest meteors. The Geminids appear to radiate from Gemini, which will be high in the sky around midnight, making even more meteors visible. 

    December also brings the Ursid Meteor Shower. While this shower is not as prominent as the Geminids, producing only about 15 meteors per hour, it is still a great shower to watch, as the Moon will not interfere this year. The Ursids peak on the 22nd and will appear to radiate from Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper. Observers will just have to look north towards Polaris to watch this shower.

 
    The Winter Solstice will occur on the 21st this month. This day marks the time in Earth's orbit when the planet's tilt will give the Northern Hemisphere longer daylight hours. I know this is one of my co-workers' favorite times of the year. As an astronomer, I prefer the longer nighttime hours! 

Monthly Breakdown

December 03: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus
December 03: Moon blocks M45 from view
December 04: Full Moon 🌕
December 07: Moon passes within 4° of Jupiter
December 07: Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation 
December 11: Last Quarter Moon🌗 
December 14: Geminid Meteor Shower peaks
December 18: Moon passes within 6° of Mercury
December 19: New Moon 🌑
December 21: Mercury reaches inferior conjunction with the Sun
December 22: Ursid Meteor Shower peaks
December 26: Moon passes within 4° of Saturn

December 27: Moon passes within 3° of Neptune 

December 27: First Quarter Moon 🌓 

December 31: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: November 2025 and the Northern Lights (again)!

                     

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

     The first half of November has been unusually warm in Utah. As I write this, the forecast calls for rain, cooler temperatures, and eventually snow. We'll see if that actually happens! I had a few missed opportunities to take out my new scope again, but I have enjoyed looking skyward to watch the planets, Moon, and constellations move above me. The highlight has been the return of the Northern Lights over Utah. More on this below.

    The remainder of November will bring the peak of the Leonid Meteor Shower on the 17th and a planetary conjunction between Venus and Mercury on the 24th. Among these, there will also be the opportunity to view the planets, Moon, and DSOs as long as the weather cooperates. There may also be another opportunity to view the Northern Lights if the chance presents itself. 

Northern Lights Over Utah 

      The Northern Lights returned to Utah during the second week of November. They were supposedly visible on November 11, 12, and 13, but due to inclement weather, I only saw them on Tuesday the 11th. There may also be an opportunity to view the aurora's glow on the 14th, 15th, and 16th, if the weather cooperates. The Sun is very active, with several strong and a few major solar flares that have already collided with and will continue to collide with the Earth. Observers should keep their eyes skyward!

    I was able to capture two images with my smartphone on the 11th from my backyard. Strangely enough, I tried to escape the light pollution and obstructions in my backyard only to find that the light pollution was worse in a field up the street from my house. 

Aurora, Airplane, Pleiades

     This first image shows the faint glow of the northern lights. The long streak of lights is an aircraft trail from the long exposure setting that I used. In line with the airplane trail is the bright star Capella to the left, and the Pleiades to the right. 

Northern Light glow

    This second image is my favorite, even though this monstrous house is in the foreground. This house is a sore spot for us and our neighbors, so let's focus on the Northern Lights! The bright star above the house is Capella. Be sure to check your favorite news feeds and weather apps to stay up to date on the aurora forecast for your location!

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: November 2025

                Introduction

   October was cold for much of the month, but also presented several clear days and nights. During several evenings, I watched Saturn appear in the east as the sky darkened, and the Moon as it passed through its phases. Nearly every clear morning of October, I watched Venus rise in the east shortly before sunrise and Orion paired with Jupiter high overhead. I finally had the opportunity to try out my new telescope during the New Moon phase. I only used the eyepieces that came with the scope, which are not of the highest quality, so the views could have been better, but I was not disappointed by any means. The highlight of the evening was Saturn, of course. The scope easily revealed the rings and a couple of Saturn's moons. I also targeted M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster) and Albireo, one of my favorite double stars. The GoTo feature on my new scope was a bit off, entirely my fault. The mount tracked the objects that I had centered in the eyepiece beautifully! I am incredibly anxious for another opportunity to take out my new scope!

    In November, many of my favorite winter constellations will rise earlier in the night sky. With them, many DSOs will return. November also brings the return of the Leonid Meteor Shower. Uranus will reach opposition this month as well. There are also a few comets hanging around in the night sky waiting to be viewed by binocular and telescope owners.

                      

Mercury

   Mercury will spend most of November in the western sky after sunset. It can be found close to Antares, the red eye of Scorpius, and Mars. As the month progresses, Mercury will move closer to the Sun until the 20th, when it reaches solar conjunction. On the 24th, Mercury pops out of the other side of the Sun, rising with Venus before sunrise. The pair can be found within 2° of each other for the remainder of the month. 

  

Venus

   Venus will remain bright but lose altitude throughout November. Venus will rise about an hour before the Sun, but because it is at a lower altitude for Northern Hemisphere observers, it will hug the eastern horizon. Mercury will join Venus in the morning sky during the last quarter of the month, but will be most noticeable after the 24th. Mercury will gain altitude while Venus sinks. The Moon will pass close to Venus on the 19th.  

    

Mars

    

    Mars will likely be too dim to spot as it moves closer to the Sun from our vantage point. Mercury can be found just 1.5° below Mars on the 12th, but the pair will be hard to spot as they hug the western horizon. For the best chance of seeing these two planets, get to a high elevation with a clear view of the west horizon. Escaping the glow of city lights will also help.

       

Jupiter

Saturn

    Jupiter is easy to spot in the night sky as it rises above the eastern horizon. On November 1, Jupiter will be visible shortly after midnight for Utahns. Due to Daylight Saving Time ending on the 2nd, this time will be an hour earlier, around 11:00 PM. As we charge through November, Jupiter will rise earlier until the end of the month, when it should be visible around 9:00 PM. As always, several Galilean Moon transits can be observed throughout the month. I encourage interested observers to use the Moons of Jupiter and Saturn app for Android or Gas Giants for iOS devices to determine when these transits occur at their location. Both of these apps are free. If an observer is interested in a paid and more comprehensive app, I recommend Stellarium Plus for both Android and iOS, as well as Sky Safari Pro for iOS. The Earth's own Moon will pass close by Jupiter on the 10th this month.  

    Saturn remains a prime target for observers throughout November. I recently viewed Saturn through my new telescope and can attest to this planet delighting observers. The tilt of the rings is not at its best right now, but viewing them nearly edge-on is still a pleasing sight. A few of the Saturnian Moons are also visible. The apps mentioned above are great resources for identifying the Moon on a particular night and from a specific location. The Earth's Moon will join Saturn on the 2nd and again on the 29th.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

   Uranus will remain in Taurus during November and can be found to the lower right of M45, the Pleiades, as the pair rises above the eastern horizon. They can be seen close to 7:30 PM for Utahns during the first week of the month. As the month progresses, the pair will rise earlier, being visible soon after sunset. Uranus reaches opposition on the 21st. The Earth's Moon will pass close by on the 6th.

  Neptune can be found trailing after Saturn in the night sky. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will be required to view this planet and its blueish glow. The Earth's Moon will be close by on November 2nd and again on November 29th.

The Leonid Meteor Shower and Comets

    The Leonid Meteor Shower returns in November. This shower is active from the 6th through the end of the month, but will peak on the 17th. The Leonids aren't known for a high volume, with only 15 meteors per hour expected on the peak date, but the meteors that do appear leave long trails in the night sky. As the name suggests, the Leonids will appear to radiate from Leo the Lion, which rises shortly after midnight on the 17th. The thin Crescent Moon won't interfere until around 6:00 AM on the morning of the peak date.

    There are currently three comets that are popping up in news feeds. Comet Lemmon can be found in the western sky after sunset and is presently the brightest of the three comets. This comet made its closest approach to the Sun in October and is growing dimmer as it moves away from us. It will quickly fade as we move deeper into November.

    Comet SWAN can be found in Aquarius during the first week of November and will then move into Pisces. Comet SWAN is significantly dimmer than Comet Lemmon and will continue to fade, requiring binoculars or a telescope, as well as a light-pollution-free sky, to be visible.

    Interstellar Comet ATLAS has been all over the news as it passes through our solar system. This comet is the third known comet to have originated outside of the solar system. It reached its closest approach to the Sun on October 30th and will become visible again in late November. 

    A dark sky and a pair of binoculars or a telescope will help locate these comets throughout the month. A camera capable of taking long exposure images will also be helpful. I recommend using a favorite stargazing app to help find these objects and track their nightly position changes. 

Monthly Breakdown

November 02: Moon passes within 4° of Saturn
November 02: Moon passes within 3° of Neptune
November 05: Full Moon 🌕
November 06: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus
November 10: Moon passes within 4° of Jupiter 
November 12: Last Quarter Moon🌗 
November 12: Mercury and Mars pass within 1.5°
November 17: Leonid Meteor Shower peaks
November 19: Moon passes within 6° of Venus 
November 20: New Moon 🌑
November 20: Mercury reaches inferior conjunction with the Sun
November 21: Uranus reaches opposition
November 24: Mercury and Venus pass within 1°

November 28: First Quarter Moon 🌓 

November 29: Moon passes within 4° of Saturn

November 29: Moon passes within 3° of Neptune 

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: October 2025 and Capitol Reef

                    

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

     The first two weeks of October have continued the cool and wet weather trend of the end of September. Although the weather has been pleasant to me, it is obviously not ideal for stargazing. Despite the weather, I was still able to partially view Venus, Jupiter, and Orion nearly every morning. Saturn and the Moon were also easy targets in the evening sky. I would like another opportunity for telescope use and imaging sessions before the cold settles in!

    The remainder of October will bring a planetary conjunction between Mars and Mercury on the 21st and the return of the Orionid Meteor Shower on the same day. There are also a couple of visible comets, and since comets are so unpredictable, they may even become visible to the naked eye during the next few weeks. The first is Comet SWAN, which can be found near Ophiuchus next to the southern Milky Way Band after sunset. Comet SWAN will travel eastward every night and end the month in Aquarius. This comet will grow fainter as it travels eastward, away from the Sun, and will require binoculars to view. 

    Comet Lemmon can be viewed in the northern sky near Ursa Major after sunset on the 15th, but it will travel westward every day and end the month in Serpens. As the night progresses, Comet Lemmon will dip below the horizon, but will return before sunrise for another chance to be viewed. Comet Lemmon will brighten as the end of the month nears, but currently requires binoculars or a telescope to see. Both comets can be captured on camera with a long exposure image.    

Capitol Reef Experience 

      My recent trip to Capitol Reef National Park was fantastic, and I highly recommend it for stargazing, astrophotography, hiking, camping, and even a quick getaway. Although my trip was plagued with clouds and rain every day, it was still a spectacular experience. For those who don't know, Capitol Reef is located in southeastern Utah and shares the red rock color of Zion's National Park, Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks, and many other state and national parks in central and southern Utah. The red rocks and vast landscape of this region attract millions of visitors every year. 

    This was my first trip to Capitol Reef, and I hope it will be the first of many. I was fortunate enough to enjoy the red color in both direct sunlight and stormy weather, each offering its own uniqueness. We arrived on a cloudy Thursday afternoon, which turned to rain just as we climbed into our tent for the night. The sound of the rain on the tent made it easy to fall asleep. 

    The next morning, almost the entire group we were with went on a water hike. Water shoes were recommended, but it's easy to do without them. The clouds came and went through most of the hike, with rain holding off until we returned to the cars. After this hike, we went on another hike to view some petroglyphs. 

Capitol Reef Water Hike

                

Capitol Reef Water Hike with Storm Clouds

Petroglyphs at Capitol Reef

    That night, we were able to set up the smart telescope and were persistently requested to do so to see what we could view. It was windy all night, and I was hesitant to set up the scope, but Friday night turned out to be the only cloud-free night we would get during the trip. Everyone was pleased with the images and ecstatic that I set up the scope. We viewed Albireo, a double star, but unfortunately, the two stars were too close together for the smart telescope to resolve. I then switched to M31, but unfortunately, the wind prevented a clear image of our neighboring galaxy. Fortunately, these were the only two objects that I was unable to image. We didn't look at many objects, but let the telescope take several images over a long period of time to enhance the view of each target. I must preface that these images could have been better if it were not for guests shining lights around the equipment, but here are the best images. 

M13, the Hercules Cluster

NGC281, the Pacman Nebula

M57, the Ring Nebula

M27, the Dumbbell Nebula

. In addition to capturing these unedited images with my smart telescope, I captured the following with my smartphone.

Stars and Trees

Andromeda, Meteors, and Aircraft

    Saturday was our last day in Capitol Reef. We went on a hike to the Hickman Natural Bridge, seen below, and a lovely drive along the recently reopened Scenic Drive Road in the rain.

Hickman Natural Bridge

    Saturday night brought in another thunderstorm, but I was able to capture a few more images with my phone.

Southern Milky Way Band with Moonglow

 

Northern Milky Way Band and Andromeda

    We left early Sunday morning to visit Bryce Canyon. Despite the cold temperatures and rain, this park was crowded! The crowds and fog prevented us from seeing much of the park, so I am anxious to revisit this place. Below are a few of the pictures I took.

Fog on the Drive to Bryce Canyon

Scenic View

Hoodoos at Bryce Canyon

    I hope these pictures are appreciated and inspire my readers to visit these and other national parks to enjoy the night sky and their beauty. Pictures can't do the views justice. 

    

Now get outside and look up!