Late fall is the time of year when the night sky gains prominence.
Winter's evening stars, among the brightest in the night sky, are starting to appear in the east as darkness falls.
This fall, the bright planet Jupiter appears as the brightest star-like object in the eastern sky. To the right of Jupiter is the bright star Aldebaran. The bright stars that make up the constellation Orion start to rise into view on early December evenings.
Riding just above Jupiter and Aldebaran sits the Pleiades star cluster. This little cloud of stars is unique and special. The cluster also is called the seven sisters, although most folks see only five or six stars with their eyes alone. Binoculars and small telescopes reveal dozens of stars in the grouping.
The Pleiades cluster is mentioned often in history among a wide range of cultures. The cluster is mentioned three times in the Bible.
The Pleiades cluster lies a relatively close 400 light years away, which contributes to its prominence in our night sky. The stars of the cluster are bluish in color, a sign of their relatively young age. Long-exposure photographs show the stars surrounded by wispy clouds of dust, which the cluster happens to be passing through.
English poet Lord Alfred Tennyson described the cluster as a "swarm of fireflies, tangled in a silver braid."
December also brings one of the best and most conveniently observable meteor showers of the year.
The annual Geminid meteor shower peaks on the night of Dec. 14, when we may see an average of about a meteor a minute if we observe from clear, dark rural sites far from city lights. The Geminids is one of the most convenient showers to observe because they are active in the early evening, unlike the after-midnight Perseids in August.
The Geminids are named for the constellation Gemini, from which the meteors appear to radiate. If the night of Dec. 14 is looking cloudy, you may see some Geminids on Dec. 13 or Dec. 15, since the shower lasts a few days.
If there's a downside to observing the Geminid meteors, it has to be the cold. But with a clear sky, dressing in layers and reclining in a lounge chair facing skyward is all that's needed to enjoy the Geminid shower.
Moonlight can wash out fainter meteors, but we're in luck this year since the moon is near new and absent from the evening sky.
Amateur astronomy at the library
If you'd like to know more about amateur astronomy and observe the moon and Jupiter through a telescope, join me tonight, weather permitting at the East Regional Library for a program titled "Amazing Space! How Sweet the Sight." The talk begins at 6:30 p.m. The library is at 4809 Clinton Road.
We'll talk about the attraction of amateur astronomy, tips on buying telescopes and the latest astronomy software for computers, tablets and smartphones. If skies are clear after the indoor program, we'll step outside and observe the moon and Jupiter with an 11-inch telescope. We'll also talk about two bright comets that should generate lots of interest during 2013.
The program is free, but registration is required through the library's website or by calling 485-2955.
If you have a question about astronomy, send it to Backyard Universe P.O. Box 849, Fayetteville, NC 28303 or email email@example.com.