Derekscope

Titan & Rhea to be seen together

• Saturn’s moons Titan and Rhea are among its brightest satellites.
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• Titan is the largest, with a thick orange atmosphere, while Rhea is smaller and icy.
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• Titan and Rhea will be visible together near Saturn at 22:20 / 10:30 pm tonight, sometimes appearing side by side in telescopic views.
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• Their proximity is striking because Titan usually orbits farther out, while Rhea is closer in.

• The lunar occultation of Regulus on Wednesday 10 December 2025 will occur between 07:26 and 08:27 in the early morning, visible in the southwestern sky.
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• Regulus can be seen in daylight with a telescope but under very specific conditions.
  

Three Acts on Jupiter’s stage in one night!

• Monday 8th at 9pm
  Io slips into shadow, Callisto’s shadow centred on Jupiter.
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• Monday 8th at 10.30pm
  Callisto’s shadow leaves Jupiter as the Great Red Spot appears.
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• Tuesday 9th at 2.15am
  The Great Red Spot drifts away, and Callisto begins its transit.
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(Times above are shown to help you prepare for observing.)

Titan transits Saturn early evening

• Saturn is visible from the UK with a telescope.
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• The transit begins around sunset and continues into twilight, offering a rare and poetic view of Saturn’s largest moon crossing the planet’s disk.
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• Mercury reaches greatest western elongation on Monday 8th December 2025.
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• At this point, it will be 20.7° west of the Sun and best visible in the morning sky from the UK.
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• Best seen in the morning sky, rising about 90 minutes before sunrise ~ low in the eastern sky, just above the horizon (Mercury brightness ~ magnitude: -0.5).
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Moon, Jupiter & the constellation Gemini (The Twin)

• To recognize the constellation Gemini near the Moon and Jupiter.
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• At 22:00 / 10pm, look toward the east – you’ll see the Moon and just to its right, a bright, steady “star” that’s Jupiter, not a star but the largest planet in our solar system.
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• Gemini rises in the northeast-east and climbs higher through the night.
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• Amazing to see both celestial bodies together – a rare opportunity for observation or astrophotography!
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• Today, 5th December marks the start of the Geminid Meteor Shower, though it hasn’t yet reached its peak.
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• The night of peak activity will be on Saturday 13th thru Sunday 14th December 2025.
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Triangle of light – the Moon, Aldebaran, and the Seven Sisters (M45)

• Look at the east horizon – the Supermoon forms a triangle with the Seven Sisters and Aldebaran.
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• Many mistake Aldebaran for Mars but here’s how to tell – stars twinkle, planets don’t!”
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Cold Moon

• Cold Moon
  – Full Moon in December is often associated with long, and crisp nights before the solstice on 21st December.

• Traditional Full Moon Names and their Meanings
  – Full Moon names reflect seasonal changes and natural rhythms observed by early cultures, particularly those influenced by UK colonial traditions and Native American heritage.
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  – Learn more about traditional Full Moon Names and their Meanings ~ Read more.
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