Check Out the Night Skies for the Special Christmas Comet

Posted: December 17, 2021 10:22 am

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Now is a great time to gaze up at the night skies in search of what many people are referring to as the Christmas comet. While you are looking, be sure to train your eyes on Saturday’s full cold moon and more celestial happenings.

Christmas Comet Now Visible

Discovered earlier this year, Comet C/2021 A1 traveled the closest to the Earth on December 12. Prior to this date, the comet was only visible during the early morning hours. However, the comet, also known as comet Leonard, is now visible in the evening sky. This prominence is making it easier for amateur stargazers to spot it.

How to Spot the Christmas Comet

While experts are not entirely sure, most believe that the Christmas comet will not be as bright as last summer’s NEOWISE comet. With the right viewing conditions, it may be visible to the naked eye. However, it will be much easier to spot with the use of a pair of binoculars or a telescope. The comet will likely look like a blurry green star with a protruding tail.

Although the comet will be potentially visible throughout the rest of the month, experts say that Friday, December 17, will provide a particularly good viewing opportunity. Because the comment will appear right below Venus after sunset, it will be easier to spot in the night sky.

The comet will appear in this position on Saturday and Sunday before gradually moving to the left of Venus by the time that Christmas arrives.

You will increase the odds of spotting this comet if you position yourself with a clear view of the horizon. As twilight comes to an end, keep your eyes trained on this horizon for the chance to see the comet.

The comet will not make its way back to Earth for another 80,000 years after this rare appearance. Comets are known for their unpredictability as it relates to brightness, making it difficult to predict which ones will be visible to those on Earth.

Full Cold Moon to Light Up the Sky

In addition to the Christmas comet, a full moon will also illuminate the sky on Saturday, December 18. This particular full moon has a variety of nicknames, most of which pay homage to the cool weather that distinguishes the onset of winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac refers to this moon as the Full Cold Moon. Other unique names for the December full moon include the Long Night Moon, the Little Spirit Moon, and the Winter Maker Moon.

The next full moon on the calendar will appear on January 17, 2022. This moon is known as the Frost Exploding Moon or the Freeze Moon.

While you are checking out the full moon on Saturday, be sure to keep an eye out for the trio of Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter appearing together in a line across the southwestern portion of the sky just after sunset. Depending on the cloud cover in your area, you may be able to spot these planets with the naked eye.

Lucky stargazers may also find an isolated shooting star or two left over from last week’s Geminid meteor shower or ahead of the December 21 Ursid meteor shower.

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