CHRISTMAS is over and 2017 is approaching rapidly, so take a few moments to wrap up warm, go outside and look at something beautiful in the night sky - the Moon hopscotching past not one but 'two' planets in the twilight.
After sunset on New Year's Day you'll see a lovely crescent Moon shining to the lower right of dazzlingly-bright Venus. On the next evening, Monday, January 2, the Moon will have moved further eastwards so that it will shine directly between Venus and Mars, which will look like an orange star to the upper left of much brighter Venus. This celestial gathering will look absolutely beautiful if you can see it from somewhere really dark, away from light pollution.
On the following evening, January 3, the Moon will have moved on along its path across the sky a little more and will be shining to the upper left of Mars, and again this will be a very striking sight so try your best to see it from somewhere which will make your view even more memorable.
Stuart Atkinson
Eddington Astronomical Society of Kendal
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