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LONG NIGHTS MOON: According to folklore, tonight's full moon is the "Long Nights Moon," so-called because it occurs near the winter solstice, the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. Tonight's moon also happens to be the highest-soaring full moon in 18 years. As seen from most parts of North America and Europe, it will be above the horizon for more than 15 hours--a long night indeed.
MOON HALOS: Keep an eye on the bright moon tonight. You might spot an ice halo around it. Marko Mikkilä of Sievi, Finland, photographed a spectacular display on Dec. 8th:
Click to view a labeled image.
"Rare halos and arcs abound in this diamond dust display," says atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley. "They are labeled here."
Among the labels you'll notice names like Parry and Tape. These are the people who discovered particular arcs: "The famous British arctic explorer Edmund Parry discovered his in 1820 while icebound near Melville Island," explains Cowley. "Halo expert Walter Tape predicted his arcs a few years ago and they were first observed at the South Pole. The elusive "V" shaped arc discovered recently by Finnish observer Jarmo Moilanen is another mystery halo. We do not yet know how it is formed. Halos are traditionally named after their discoverer -- go outdoors and find yours!"
BLUE VENUS: Venus is so bright, you can see it in broad daylight. On Dec. 10th, with the sun still shining, Denis Joye of Boulogne, France, spotted Venus, pointed his telescope and took this picture:
Surprised? Like the Moon, Venus has phases, and at the moment it is a slender crescent, particularly beautiful when surrounded by blue sky. You can see this yourself if you have a backyard telescope. The best time to look is during the half hour before sunset. Venus pops into view, an easy target, while the sky is still blue. Try it!