Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W50

Week begins: Monday, December 8, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Dec 8, 2025♐ 17
C28 / NGC 752 — Telescope 6 — Northern Autumn
α Hyi — Naked eye 3 — Southern Autumn
Finest NGC 14 / NGC 772 · Arp 78 — Telescope 11 — Tropical Autumn
Tue, Dec 9, 2025♐ 18
Alrescha (α Psc) — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Autumn
Almach (Gam-1) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Autumn
Wed, Dec 10, 2025♐ 19
Hamal (α Ari) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Autumn
β Tri — Naked eye 3 — Northern Autumn
Thu, Dec 11, 2025♐ 20
🌗 Last Quarter — 20:51:42 UTC
Fri, Dec 12, 2025♐ 21
Mira (ο Ceti) (variable brightness) — Tropical Autumn
Sat, Dec 13, 2025♐ 22
C14 / NGC 869/884 · Double Cluster — Telescope 4 — Northern Autumn
Finest NGC 17 / NGC 884 · Double Cluster with 869 — Telescope 4 — Northern Autumn
Finest NGC 12 / NGC 891 · Silver Needle / C23 / NGC 891 — Telescope 11 — Northern Autumn
Sun, Dec 14, 2025♐ 23
Finest NGC 16 / NGC 936 · MCG 0-7-17 — Telescope 11 — Tropical Autumn

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins December 8, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♐︎ 16°08′
β +0°00′		♋︎ 28°20′
β +3°33′		♏︎ 25°32′
β +2°19′		♐︎ 9°00′
β +0°26′		♐︎ 24°30′
β −0°43′		♋︎ 24°01′
β +0°11′		♓︎ 25°15′
β −2°21′
ObservingNightNaked eye -11.7Naked eye -0.4☉︎☉︎Naked eye -2.6Naked eye 0.9
Rise07:3319:1505:4206:5808:1819:0713:00
Set16:2710:5515:2916:0216:5410:2100:33

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 3°18′
β −10°40′		♉︎ 28°46′
β −0°12′		♓︎ 29°22′
β −1°21′		♒︎ 2°04′
β −3°46′
ObservingTelescope 8.6Binoculars 5.6Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.6
Rise14:0115:2013:0411:00
Set00:5806:1400:5719:42

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 20:44:09 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W50 runs from December 8 through December 14. Venus is about 0.8° in ecliptic longitude from Antares in Scorpius. Ceres and Neptune are separated by about 3.9° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌗 Last Quarter — 20:51:42 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Head of Hydrus, Almach, Hamal, β Tri as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Alpha Hydri: The Head of Hydrus in the Southern Sky — A detailed overview of the star known as Alpha Hydri, its position, and significance in the constellation Hydrus.

Almach: The Bright Star of Andromeda’s Starry Crown — An exploration of Almach, a stunning multiple star system renowned for its striking colors and historical significance in celestial navigation.

Hamal: The Bright Star of Aries and Its Celestial Significance — An insightful glance into Hamal, a prominent star in Aries, illuminating its characteristics and role in the night sky.

Beta Tri: A Bright Beacon in the Triangulum Constellation — An overview of the star Beta Tri, highlighting its characteristics and place in the night sky.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -11.7; direct motion; 87.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury: Naked eye; magnitude -0.4; direct motion; 62.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 99.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: In solar glare; magnitude 1.3; direct motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.6; direct motion; 97.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.6; retrograde motion; 99.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.9; direct motion; 99.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.6; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Dec 10 12:23 UTC: turns direct. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.6; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Pisces’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Alrescha at its charted position.

Alrescha: The Twin Star of Pisces — A luminous figure marking the heart of the constellation Pisces, exemplifying binary star characteristics and celestial beauty.

Small telescope: NGC 752: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Arp 78: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Double Cluster with 869: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Silver Needle: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 0-7-17: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

Open Cluster Caldwell 28: A Glimpse into Stellar Congregation in Andromeda — An enduring celestial gathering revealing the beauty of star formation and cluster evolution.

Arp 78: A Galaxy in Aquarius — An intriguing celestial feature offering insights into galaxy morphology and structure.

The Double Cluster in Perseus: A Celestial Gem — A detailed look at one of the most striking open clusters in the night sky, rich with stellar beauty and astrophysical significance.

Silver Needle: A Distinctive Galaxy of Andromeda — Discover the intriguing features of this celestial galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda.

Unveiling MCG 0-7-17: A Galaxy in Cetus — An enduring snapshot of a distant galaxy, emphasizing its role within the constellation Cetus.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 55.4° below the horizon. Rises 05:42; sets 15:29 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.4. The disk is 62.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 20.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.014° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acrab, 8.1° away. Mercury: 8.1° from Acrab in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:58; sets 16:02 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 99.3% illuminated (nearly full). It is 7.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.258° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Antares, 5.1° away. Venus: 5.1° from Antares in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 15.9° above the horizon. Rises 19:15; sets 10:55 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -11.7. The disk is 87.0% illuminated (waning gibbous). It is 137.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 14.319° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 5.7° away. Moon: 5.7° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:18; sets 16:54 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.3. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 8.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.748° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sabik, 10.0° away. Mars: 10.0° from Sabik in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 17.8° above the horizon. Rises 19:07; sets 10:21 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.6. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 142.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.084° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 6.5° away. Jupiter: 6.5° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 32.5° above the horizon. Rises 13:00; sets 00:33 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.9. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 99.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.018° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.0° away. Neptune is 4.2° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 13.0° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 56.4° above the horizon. Rises 15:20; sets 06:14 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 162.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.039° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 12.5° away. Uranus: 12.5° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 36.3° above the horizon. Rises 13:04; sets 00:57 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 103.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.001° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.7° away. Saturn is 4.2° away at the snapshot. Station Dec 10 12:23 UTC: turns direct. Neptune: 14.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 32.7° above the horizon. Rises 14:01; sets 00:58 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.6. The disk is 97.3% illuminated (gibbous). It is 106.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.096° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 10.1° away. Ceres: 10.1° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 12.8° below the horizon. Rises 11:00; sets 19:42 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 46.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.024° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.7° away. Pluto: 8.7° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.