Moon close to Castor and Pollux
On the evenings of December 9 and 10, 2022, discover the waning gibbous moon glowing close to Castor and Pollux, the dual stars of Gemini. Though the dual stars don’t look alike, they’re fairly noticeable within the sky, as a result of they’re vivid and shut collectively. Nonetheless, Castor is barely dimmer than Pollux.
Additionally close by is Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. Consequently, it’s generally referred to as the Little Canine Star.
A waning moon
The moon is simply previous full phase, now rising after sundown. On the ninth, the moon is contained in the Winter Hexagon or Circle, a form product of vivid stars. The define of the Winter Hexagon consists of six 1st-magnitude stars from totally different constellations. Pollux, being brighter than Castor, is the star from Gemini that marks one level within the Hexagon.
Then, on December 10, the moon, now all the way down to 92% lit, is pretty near Pollux. It lies close to one of many edges of the Winter Hexagon. Because the moon strikes out of the best way, it can grow to be simpler to see the form of the Hexagon in a darker sky.
Castor and Pollux
Castor and Pollux might have the nickname of “twin” stars, however they’re not that a lot alike. Listed below are a couple of fast variations between Castor and Pollux.
First, Castor is 51 light-years away from us and is, in actuality, 6 stars. Pollux is 34 light-years from Earth. Second, Castor shines with a whitish mild tinged with blue, whereas Pollux is golden. Lastly, we all know that Pollux has at the very least one planet, which scientists have named Thestias.
To see a exact view of the moon close to Castor and Pollux out of your location, strive Stellarium Online.
Backside line: See the moon close to Castor and Pollux on December 9 and 10. Pollux is the brighter of the 2 twin stars in Gemini, and the moon shall be closest to it on December 10.
For more great observing events in the coming weeks, visit EarthSky’s night sky guide