Mongolia | Zaisan Tolgoi | Venus-Jupiter | Monster Full Moon

Images have been pouring in from the Venus-Jupiter-Sickle Moon Alignment back on December 1.

View from India

View from USA

Our correspondent in New York City, Storied Adventuress-Temptress Gunj, who apparently spotted the alignment from her fabulous penthouse apartment near Union Square, also filed a report:

. . . up in the beautiful sky tonite: venus & jupiter and crescent moon-facing upwards—making a spectacular triangle . . . a fiesta to my eyes and my spirit, can't stop myself to send kisses to sky . . .

Forgive her if her emotions got the better of her grammar.

As if the Venus-Jupiter-Sickle Moon Alignments weren’t enough to palpitate the hearts of heaven gazers, on the night of December 12-13 we will be treated to yet another jaw-dropper. The Full Moon, which occurs at 12:37 am (Ulaan Baatar time) on the morning of the 13th will be the biggest and brightest Full Moon since 1993! There are several UB New Year’s office parties scheduled for that night. Katy bar the door!

Graphic courtesy of Sky&Telescope

Ulugh Beg must be spinning in his grave, to say nothing of Nasir al-Din Tusi.

Mongolia | Ulaan Baatar | Venus and Jupiter

I don't know why I waste my time on you dolts, but I am going to point out Yet Again that Venus and Jupiter are now presenting a gorgeous sight on the southern horizon just after sunset.

According to Sky & Telescope:

The Venus-Jupiter pairing in the southwestern twilight is becoming a head-turning spectacle, as shown at right, and it will become more impressive all week . . . Jupiter and Venus may look close together, but Jupiter this week is nearly six times farther away from us than Venus is. That's part of why Jupiter is less bright even though it's a much bigger planet. The other reason is that, being farther from the Sun, Jupiter is lit much less brilliantly by the Sun's light . . . With Venus and Jupiter just 2.4° apart this evening, the thin crescent Moon steps onstage about 20° to their lower right as shown here. The two planets will be closest, 2° apart, on Sunday and Monday evenings — when, coincidentally, the Moon shines near them as well.

For those fortunate enough to be in Ulaan Baatar the Venus-Jupiter alignment is stunningly obvious to the south-southwest just over the ridge of Bogd Khan Uul. Even the most directionally challenged among you should be able to spot them very easily. So before stumbling into the dens of dissipation where you usually waste your evenings take a few minutes to lift your earthbound glance to the skies and take in this spectacular sight.