Sun: About as far south as it gets

We are approaching a major change in the year, winter starts on Dec. 22, at 9:48 pm MST. At that time the Sun reaches its farthest point south of the celestial equator -- an event called the Winter Solstice.

However, just because it is winter, that does not change the exciting prospects for observing outside your backdoor have lessened. In fact it is probably just the opposite.

With the Sun setting about 4:30 p.m. MST, our observing time can start much earlier too. Astronomical twilight (the start of the best observing time) is at about 6 p.m. MST which means we won't need to be outside late into the evening for some great observing possibilities.

For example, just rising over the eastern horizon at about that time is the "V" shape of Taurus, the Bull, with its great Hyades star cluster -- it is what makes the "V" shape of the bull's face. It is a super object for binoculars.

Just a little further up and to the right is another super binocular star cluster, The Pleiades. Just to the right of Taurus

To the left of Taurus, is another constellation, Auriga, the Charioteer. Auriga is a not-quite roundish, scrunched up, rectangle with the very bright star Capella in the middle of the upper side, and above it is the "A" shape of Perseus.

But what I want to look at now is located just below these three. With his arm just reaching over the horizon, Orion, the Hunter is announcing his arrival for the evening. You will have time to go back inside, get a cup of coffee, or hot chocolate, to warm up before going back out at about 9:00 pm to see him in all his splendor.

Associated with Orion are a couple of asterisms -- formations of stars that are not constellations, but can include the stars from several constellations in their make up.

Since we are losing the Summer Triangle in the west, how about another one rising in the east, this time it is the Winter Triangle. It is made up starting with the red-giant star Betelgeuse marking Orion's right shoulder (or some would call it his "armpit").

Follow a line down and left to the bright star Procyon marking the eye of the little dog, Canis Minor, then follow it back right under Orion, to Sirius, the eye of the other of his hunting dogs, Canis Major.

The second asterism is the Winter Hexagon, but we will be discussing that next week.

In other business, we still have the grand parade of morning planets in the eastern sky before sunrise all this week about an hour before local sunrise.

Starting just above the horizon is very bright Venus, up and to the right is much dimmer Mars, and further along the ecliptic is bright Jupiter. We also still have Comet Catalina hanging around in the vicinity.

I haven't been able to get some glass on it because of the clouds that have been present along the eastern horizon. Plot a line from Venus up and right to Arcturus in Bootes (if you don't remember how to find Arcturus, just remember the little phrase using the arcing handle of the Big Dipper, "Arc to Arcturus."

About halfway along that line, using binoculars, you should find the comet. The comet will be following that line toward Arcturus, and will be in very close conjunction with it by Jan. 1.

SKY WATCH: First quarter moon, Friday, Dec. 18. Tonight, the moon will be in the same binocular field of view with the planet Neptune.

NEXT WEEK: The Winter Hexagon, and more astronomical blathering.