Dining & Nightlife | Astronomy

This year, the Winter Solstice takes place on December 22nd. It marks the precise point in time when the days stop getting shorter and start getting longer. Religious celebrations are frequently associated with solstices, the Winter Solstice being no exception. Many celebrations surrounding the Winter Solstice have a theme of death and resurrection, no doubt connected with the symbolic “death” and “rebirth” of the sun. During such celebrations, friends and relatives gather together to share food, fire, warmth and song. Christmas is the premier Winter Solstice event in the so-called Western world, complete with a death and resurrection theme, family get-togethers, caroling, log burning (in fireplaces with chimneys for Santa) and lights. The theme of death and rebirth, ends and beginnings, even extends to the demise of the old year and the initiation of the new one that takes place, along with intense celebrations, on New Year’s Eve.

Last year was unusual in that there was a total lunar eclipse—a “death and resurrection” of the moon—on the same day as the Winter Solstice. This is a rare and special occurrence, something that happens only once every several hundred years; it was an event well attended by Wiccans and other Pagan groups. Although not as rare, upcoming celestial events are no less special:

* The Geminids, considered one of the best meteor showers of the year, reach their peak between December 13th and 14th, with some meteors being visible from the 6th through the 19th. One can expect up to 60 multicolored meteors every hour. Look for these meteors in the Northeast skies late in the evening. Best viewing is after midnight.
* The Quadrantids peak around the 3rd and 4th of January, with a radiant not far off the handle of the Big Dipper. About 40 meteors per hour can be expected. Again, these meteors are best observed after midnight.
* Jupiter will ride high in the early evening skies. Look for it in the South-Southwest where it will pass through Pisces. Jupiter is hard to miss, as it is one of the brightest objects in the heavens.
* Neptune and Uranus will also grace the early evening skies, but these planets really do require a telescope to observe.
* Orion will be rising in the South-Southeast skies in the early evening. If you have access to a telescope, or even some good binoculars, you can observe the famous Orion Nebula, a region of active star formation.