This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 25.6 degrees from the Sun. This moon has also been know as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.įebruary 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. The second quarter moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year, but it could still be a good show if you are patient.

It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. January 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower.

Celestial theme for word 2016