In the upcoming December, Mars opposition and Gemini meteor shower will appear in the sky one after another, forming the most exciting celestial landscape at the end of 2022, and both celestial phenomena can be directly observed with the naked eye. Friends who are interested should not miss it.
Mars opposition
The first wonderful astronomical phenomenon to appear in November is the Mars opposition tide on December 8th.
Mars opposition to the sun appears once every 780 days on average, and Whenever Mars orbits the sun and moves roughly to form a straight line with the earth and the sun, and the earth is exactly between the two, it forms a "Mars opposition to the sun". At this time, Mars is closer to Earth and looks brighter. On the night of the day, the slightly red Mars will be embedded in the sky like a ruby, shining brightly and fascinating.
Director of the Science Popularization Center of the Yunnan Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences: "Coincidentally, this day is the fifteenth day of our lunar calendar. The moon is the full moon. When it is dark, the moon rises from the east horizon, and Mars rises almost the east horizon. The two are very close, and they are in the sky overnight, forming the 'Mars companion moon'." On the day of the 1st day of the rushing day, Mars' brightness reached -1.8, etc., and in the starry sky at night, its brightness was second only to Jupiter . Astronomical science experts said that December 1, before the Mars opposition, is the closest moment to Earth recently, so it is recommended that you start observing Mars a few days before the 8th.
Director of the Popular Science Center of Yunnan Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences Wang Xunhao: "With the help of astronomical telescope , Mars is a small red round surface. If you like astronomical photography, I suggest that you add a camera to a popular science telescope and try to take pictures. If you take pictures, you can see whether you can see the extreme crown of Mars in the north and south poles and the white extreme crown. This will be a very beautiful scene."
Gemini meteor shower
Gemini meteor shower is also one of the most anticipated astronomical phenomena at the end of the year. It is known as the three major meteor shower in the northern hemisphere, together with quadrant meteor shower and Perseid meteor shower .
Relatively speaking, the Gemini meteor shower has high brightness, medium speed and rich colors, which is very attractive to visual observers. The number of it appears every year is relatively stable. Under ideal sky conditions, the theoretical zenith flow per hour can reach more than 120 pixels.
Director of the Science Popularization Center of the Yunnan Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences Wang Xunhao: "In fact, it is quite common in astronomy, but it is called "rain", but it is different from rain. It has 120 per hour and 2 per minute. You have to be patient. There may be a group of very interested people counting meteors together."
-12-17 is the active period of Gemini meteor showers. The best observation period this year is from the evening of December 14 to before dawn on December 15. The ideal observation location for is far away from the city, has a wide view, and no light influence.
Director of the Science Popularization Center of the Yunnan Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences Wang Xunhao: "In Kunming, it may be around 9 o'clock. Gemini rises from the northeast direction, and reaches the zenith at about midnight. It is very high. If you want to count the meteors, just lie on the lawn and look up at the direction of Gemini, because the meteors are often stronger in the second half of the night than in the first half of the night, so relax in the first half of the night, and you can watch it at around 12 o'clock in the second half of the night."
Reporter: Zong Guyu Zhao Wenhan
edit: Meiling
