Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2027-W52

Week begins: Monday, December 27, 2027

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Dec 27, 2027♑ 6
🌑 New Moon — 20:12:20 UTC
C24 / NGC 1275 · Perseus A — Telescope 12 — Northern Winter
Tue, Dec 28, 2027♑ 7
Mirfak (α Per) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Winter — in the Milky Way
Wed, Dec 29, 2027♑ 8
Thu, Dec 30, 2027♑ 9
Epsilon Eridani (ε Eridani) — Naked eye — Tropical Winter
Fri, Dec 31, 2027♑ 10
Sat, Jan 1, 2028♑ 11
β Ret — Binoculars 4 — Southern Winter
Sun, Jan 2, 2028♑ 12
C5 / IC 342 — Telescope 9 — Arctic Winter
M45 — Telescope 2 — Northern Winter

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins December 27, 2027, 00:00 UTC.

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

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♑︎ 4°59′
β −0°00′		♐︎ 25°25′
β −3°09′		♑︎ 13°34′
β −2°07′		♒︎ 8°53′
β −1°52′		♑︎ 24°00′
β −1°06′		♍︎ 27°05′
β +1°14′		♈︎ 21°02′
β −2°34′
ObservingNight☉︎☉︎Naked eye -4.0☉︎Naked eye -2.1Naked eye 0.4
Rise07:3707:1308:2509:4708:5723:1712:34
Set16:2315:2216:5219:0417:4911:4301:26

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♏︎ 5°11′
β +8°28′		♊︎ 6°52′
β −0°05′		♈︎ 3°53′
β −1°25′		♒︎ 5°49′
β −4°44′
ObservingTelescope 8.8Binoculars 5.6Telescope 7.8TelescopeTelescope 14.6
Rise02:1914:2311:5209:55
Set13:4405:3423:5918:37

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 01:29:03 UTC

View:

ISO 2027-W52 runs from December 27 through January 2. To find Mercury, first identify Sagittarius, trace the Teapot of Sagittarius, and locate Nunki in that pattern. Mercury lies about 1.2° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Nunki to the planet. Uranus is about 2.9° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 20:12:20 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Mirfak, Epsilon Eridani as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Mirfak: The Bright Heart of Perseus — A detailed look at the prominent star that anchors the constellation Perseus.

Epsilon Eridani — the nearby star that made us listen — A modest point in the River connects the first modern radio search for other civilizations with a nearby planetary system whose dust still challenges astronomers.

Planets: Moon: In solar glare; magnitude -5.0; direct motion; 0.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Dec 27 20:12 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Dec 28 16:45 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 23:52 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Dec 29 11:58 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 07:58 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -0.9; direct motion; 96.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 28 16:45 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.0; direct motion; 82.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 23:52 UTC. Mars: In solar glare; magnitude 1.2; direct motion; 98.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 29 11:58 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.8; direct motion; 97.2% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.1; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.4; 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 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. 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. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 07:58 UTC.

Binoculars: Trace Reticulum’s diamond-shaped figure in the finder, then identify β Ret at its charted position.

Beta Reticuli — an orange giant with a hidden companion — A naked-eye point in the southern Reticle conceals a stellar pair, while its far-southern position places it below the horizon for many northern observers.

Small telescope: Perseus A: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; IC 342: this diffuse galaxy is challenging; seek a very dark, transparent sky and use a telescope; Pleiades: binoculars or a low-power wide field show the cluster together

Perseus A: A Celestial Beacon in the Constellation Perseus — An overview of the Seyfert galaxy Perseus A, its characteristics, and its significance in astronomical studies.

IC 342 — a neighbouring galaxy behind our own curtain — The Hidden Galaxy spans roughly a full Moon on the sky, yet foreground dust and its spread-out light make it a patient telescope target.

Pleiades — a familiar cluster with a much larger family — The Seven Sisters offer a wide-field view of young stars, passing dust and a stellar family whose known extent has grown far beyond the familiar little pattern.

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

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:25; sets 16:52 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.9. The disk is 96.9% illuminated (gibbous). It is 8.8° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.607° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 1.5° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 28 16:45 UTC. Mercury: 1.5° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 19.9° below the horizon. Rises 09:47; sets 19:04 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.0. The disk is 82.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 33.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.227° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 7.8° away. Pluto is 4.2° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 23:52 UTC. Venus: 7.8° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:13; sets 15:22 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -5.0. The disk is 0.8% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 10.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 12.457° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Shaula, 10.6° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Dec 27 20:12 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Dec 28 16:45 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 23:52 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Dec 29 11:58 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 07:58 UTC. Moon: 10.6° from Shaula in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:57; sets 17:49 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.2. The disk is 98.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 19.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.780° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 11.5° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 29 11:58 UTC. Mars: 11.5° from Nunki 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 23.5° below the horizon. Rises 23:17; sets 11:43 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.1. The disk is 99.2% illuminated (nearly full). It is 97.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.051° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 0.7° away. Jupiter: 0.7° from Zavijava 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 42.8° above the horizon. Rises 12:34; sets 01:26 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.4. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 106.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.005° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 10.8° away. Saturn: 10.8° from Alrescha 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 63.4° above the horizon. Rises 14:23; sets 05:34 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 151.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.036° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 6.3° away. Uranus: 6.3° 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 29.4° above the horizon. Rises 11:52; sets 23:59 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 88.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.007° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 18.2° away. Neptune: 18.2° 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 48.1° below the horizon. Rises 02:19; sets 13:44 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.8. The disk is 97.2% illuminated (gibbous). It is 60.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.372° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zubenelgenubi, 13.1° away. Ceres: 13.1° from Zubenelgenubi 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 23.9° below the horizon. Rises 09:55; sets 18:37 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 31.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.028° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 9.4° away. Venus is 4.2° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Dec 30 07:58 UTC. Pluto: 9.4° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.