Some observations take optical assistance

So, now it is we approach the time of year where, for some, thoughts of Sugar Plums start dancing in our heads, for others thoughts of what we have been wanting all year float in and out of our dreams.

Often the question comes to us in the form of, "What telescope should I buy? That is like asking what kind of car should I buy? It comes down to first deciding what you want to do with it, before you decide which one you want.

A telescope that sits in the corner of the room or in the garage collecting dust is of no use to anyone. It ended up there because it was too difficult to use, or not understandable.

Such things as the intended user's age and skill level should be considered, as well as interest level. Will this be a Christmas toy that is used for a few days then consigned to the corner, or is the young user ready to do some stellar exploration.

Another "telescope killer" is unresolved expectations. If your user is expecting to see what the photographs in the fancy magazines are showing, then there will be a great disappointment. Most of what a small telescope show will be various shades of grey with no fancy color at all.

Unless you are looking at something like Mars, Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, or Antares which will all show a reddish color.

If a telescope is beyond expectations now, how about a nice book? One of my favorites is "Turn Left At Orion," another -- for a little more advanced reader -- is 40 Days To Knowing the Summer Sky."

There are more that a quick scan through amazon.com will show. There are also age recommendation guides.

At the very least, I would suggest start with a good pair of binoculars and any of the many guides for learning the night sky which is where I would heartily suggest that all starting astronomers begin, no matter what the age.

Now, to what is happening in the sky. Lots of excitement this week as we have a comet for our early morning viewing and another early morning opportunity (although not too early) where we can watch the moon cover (or occult) the bright planet Venus, and this will be in the daytime.

First to our comet, C/2013 US 10 Catalina is moving into the morning sky for the northern hemisphere and should be visible with just the eyes alone, and certainly in binoculars and a small telescope.

It rounded the Sun on Nov. 15 and is heading in a northerly direction -- in relation to the plane of the Solar System -- and after passing Earth will exit back into deep space and never be seen again.

OK, where do we start, OK, we start on the morning of Dec. 7, about an hour before local sunrise (please note, all directions and time are given for the Mountain Time Zone specific and relative to southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas) looking just above the southeastern horizon.

There a very slender crescent moon will be very near the planet Venus, the comet will be about five degrees (about the width of a binocular field of view, FOV) to the left of the moon. In fact, both objects should appear on opposite sides of the FOV.

As for the Venus occultation -- it will also happen during the morning hours of Dec. 7, starting at about 9:45 a.m. MDT when the planet Venus will slide behind the left (the lit crescent side). It will reappear from behind the other side (the dark, unlit side) at about 11:15 a.m. MDT (as viewed from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas).

Since this happens in daylight, a telescope will be essential.

SKY WATCH: Third quarter moon, Dec. 3, New Moon, Dec. 14.

NEXT WEEK: More astronomical blathering.