The reason for the luster

In the immortal words of the W. Clement Moore's poem, "The Night Before Christmas, "he writes, "The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow, gave a luster of midday to objects below."

One reason for that luster was probably a full moon and we are going to have that same view of a full moon on the snow at Christmas this year; an event that occurs rarely. We haven't seen one since 1977 and won't see one again until 2020.

That is assuming we have snow on Christmas, an event that has been hit or miss of late. But, somehow we have the idea that since Christmas and snow seem to go together, we are indeed hoping for a white Christmas.

Now, where were we? Oh yes, the Winter Circle-or more accurately named, the Winter Hexagon.

The Winter Circle/Hexagon is an asterism, a pattern of stars that is not a constellation, but the stars that make it up are from several other constellations.

To start, be outside any evening after 8:30 p.m. MST looking to the southeast for the giant constellation, Orion, the Hunter. His hour-glass shape figure with the three stars for a belt can't be missed.

Find his right foot (as you are looking at it), that is the bright blue-giant star Rigel.

Using the three stars of his belt, shoot a line upward to another bright star, Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, the Bull. You can recognize it by the "V" shape of its face. That shape is the Hyades star cluster. Aldebaran and the "V" might be a little difficult to locate because the almost-full moon is just to its left.

For our next side, draw a line from Aldebaran left and slightly up to another bright star, Capella, the brightest star in Auriga, the Charioteer. Auriga is a lopsided circle with Capella on the top side.

From Capella, go down and slightly left to the twin stars of Gemini-Castor on top and Pollux below-then down and slightly right to Procyon, the star marking the eye of one of Orion's hunting dogs, Canis Minor.

Canis Minor is extremely difficult to find because it has only two stars. To help in the finding, draw a line from the two shoulder starsof Orion to the left and it will intersect Procyon.

For the final side of the hexagon, draw a line from Procyon to the right and slightly down to the brightest star in the night time sky, Sirius, The Dog Star. So named because it is the eye of Orion's second hunting dog, Canis Major.

SKY WATCH: Full moon, Friday, Dec. 25. Still hunting for Comet Catalina? It always helps to have a little help. For instance, at about 5 a.m. MST on Dec. 31, (New Year's Eve) add to your celebrations going outside and finding the moon and Jupiter in a near conjunction above the southern horizon. To the left about 30 degrees (three clenched fists width) is the star Arcturus in Bootes, the Hunter. Right next to the star will be the comet-a fine sight in binoculars, or the new telescope you received for Christmas.

NEXT WEEK: A little New Year's Eve stargazing and more astronomical blathering.