Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - December 2020

DECEMBER 2020 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 28
Their voyage will be a continuous reminder that the
peaceful conquest of space is the only form of conquest
in which modern man can proudly and profitably
engage. In this struggle, all men are allies, and the only
enemy is a hostile environment.
— Lyndon Johnson (1965)
The Christmas season was closing in. Gemini VI
(Walter M. Schirra, Jr, Thomas P. Stafford) and Gemini
VII (Frank F. Borman II, James A. Lovell, Jr.) were in
the process of completing the first-ever rendezvous
between two spacecraft in orbit. The crews moved as
close as one foot, taking pictures and describing the
appearance of each spacecraft. Schirra reported, “We
have an object, looks like a satellite going from north
to south, probably in a polar orbit. He’s in a very low
trajectory. Looks like he might be going to re-enter
soon. Stand by one…” December 16th is the 55th
anniversary of the first musical instruments played in
space. “Jingle Bells” was covered with Schirra on
harmonica and Stafford on bells.
Wednesday, December 16th
Throughout the day the Moon is gradually exiting
Sagittarius and closing in on Jupiter and Saturn. After
sunset the celestial trio can be seen low in the western
sky. The crescent Moon appears about five degrees
away from both Jupiter and Saturn as it drops below
the western horizon. At this time Mars can be seen
high in the eastern sky.
Thursday, December 17th
Yesterday Jupiter and Saturn could be found off the
dark side of the Moon. Tonight they are positioned
west of the Moon’s illuminated crescent. Over the next
few nights Jupiter and Saturn will continue to creep
up on each other reaching their closest approach on
December 21st.
Saturday, December 19th
Just before the midnight hour of December 20th is
the peak of the December Leonis Minorid meteor
shower. The shooting stars will radiate out of the
northeast from an area in between Leo and Leo Minor.
Of course the best viewing occurs after midnight.
Monday, December 21st
There are conjunctions and then there are great
conjunctions. A great conjunction is the rarest of all
conjunctions between planets that are visible to the
naked eye.
During their passage through the sky Jupiter
periodically catches up with Saturn and overtakes it,
resulting in a great conjunction. Rather than one
planet passing in front of the other (from the
observer’s perspective), this conjunction is due to the
apparent distance between the planets being
extremely small. A great conjunction for Jupiter and
Saturn occurs, on average, once every 19.6 years. For
more detail take a look through binoculars. You
might get a glimpse of Jupiter’s moons. The last great
conjunction occurred in the year 2000. However, this
THE CARIBBEAN SKY: FREE SHOW NIGHTLY!
The Sky from Mid-December 2020 to Mid-January 2021
by Jim Ulik
NASA & THE SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE
great conjunction will be the closest approach of the
two planets since the year 1623. They will not come
so close again until 2080.
Today is the December Solstice, or the first day of
winter in the northern hemisphere. The Earth’s
South Pole is now tilted toward the Sun, which will
have reached its southernmost position in the sky
directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees
south latitude.
Tuesday, December 22nd
The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing
about ten meteors per hour. It is produced by dust
grains left behind by comet Tuttle, first discovered in
1790. The shower runs annually from December 17th
through 25th. Meteors will radiate from the
constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in
the sky.
Wednesday, December 23rd
The Moon has reached first quarter about three
hours before rising. After sunset you will see a close
approach between the Moon and Mars. A famous Rod
Serling quote reads, “The middle ground between light
and shadow… is an area which we call the Twilight
Zone.” The terminator line on the Moon tonight is also
described as the twilight zone. Extending the
terminator line leads directly to Mars.
Thursday, December 24th
Venus has slipped by the claws of the scorpion.
Over the next few days Venus can be seen north of
Antares, the heart of Scorpius. Antares — or “Ant-
Happy Holidays from the Hubble Telescope!
Ares,” which means “like Mars” — is commonly
mistaken for the red planet.
Tuesday, December 29th
The Moon will reach full phase. At this time in its
monthly cycle of phases, the Moon lies almost directly
opposite the Sun in the sky, placing it high above the
horizon for much of the night.
Saturday, January 2nd
The Earth has reached its closest orbital point
(perihelion) to the Sun. The Earth receives more
intense solar radiation at perihelion. The extra
radiation does not increase the Earth’s average
temperature because the southern hemisphere is
facing the Sun. The southern hemisphere is 80
percent water, which absorbs the additional radiation
and disperses the additional heat throughout the
southern oceans.
—Continued on next page
BOAT PAINT & STUFF
Time Out Boat Yard Saint Martin
Next to the French Bridge
ANTIFOULING SPECIALIST:
PPG Amron COPPERCOAT
Permanent Antifouling
(10 years and more…)
Fiberglass + Epoxy & Polyester Resins
Epoxy primer + Polyurethane Top Coat
Phone: + (590) 690 221 676
info@boatpaintstuff.com
www.boatpaintstuff.com