Our charts are set principally for the northern half of Earth. To see a exact view out of your location, attempt Stellarium Online.
Moon close to Crown of Scorpius
On the morning of December 21, 2022, look ahead to the waning crescent moon to pair up with the three stars often called the Crown of Scorpius. These stars marks the pinnacle of Scorpius the Scorpion.
For those who look about 40 minutes earlier than dawn, extra of Scorpius is above the horizon, probably together with the brilliant purple star Antares, thought-about the Scorpion’s Coronary heart.
Stars within the Crown of Scorpius
When it’s totally above the horizon – as it is going to be earlier than daybreak a month or so from now – Scorpius the Scorpion is likely one of the best constellations to see within the sky. That’s as a result of it resembles a big fishhook or J-shaped determine. The hook within the J is the Scorpion’s Tail. The Crown of the Scorpion or Scorpion’s Head is on the alternative finish of the constellation from the Tail. It’s a barely curved arc of three stars: Acrab, Dschubba, and Fang.
The higher a part of the Scorpion – Antares on the Coronary heart, and the three stars on the Crown – have a real gravitational connection in house. They’re all a part of a grouping of younger stars often called the Scorpius–Centaurus Association. These stars have been doubtless born collectively from a single cloud of fuel and mud in house, they usually nonetheless transfer by way of house of our Milky Way galaxy in a loosely related group.
By the best way, the center star of the Crown – Dschubba – is a really intriguing star. It’s a well known variable star whose brightness you may simply comply with with the unaided eye. At it’s brightest, it may well actually change the looks of Scorpius. Nonetheless, Antares can be variable, so at instances Dschubba can nearly rival purple Antares in brightness!
Backside line: A really outdated waning crescent moon joins the three stars that make up the Crown of Scorpius on the morning of December 21, 2022. The stunning glow on the moon is earthshine.
For more great observing events in the coming weeks, visit EarthSky’s night sky guide
