The week ahead will be mostly cloudy and rainy. Sunday features afternoon showers with a high of 60°F. Monday and Tuesday will see more rain, with highs around 63°F and 60°F, respectively. Wednesday brings some sun before more clouds and a high of 58°F. Expect rain again on Thursday and Friday, with highs in the mid to upper 50s. Saturday remains cloudy with possible rain. Overall, prepare for a wet Christmas week! https://www.kcra.com/weather

From December 22 to 28, 2024, stargazers will enjoy captivating sights. The First Quarter Moon will grow into a Waxing Gibbous. Jupiter will shine brightly in Taurus, while Saturn sets after midnight in Aquarius. The Ursids meteor shower peaks around December 22-23, offering 5-10 meteors per hour. The Christmas story is told in the night sky on December 24. Winter constellations like Orion, Taurus, and Gemini dominate the sky, with Orion’s belt easily visible. Telescopes or binoculars can reveal the Orion Nebula (M42) and the Pleiades star cluster in Taurus. Merry Christmas! https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/

The Yule log, also known as the Yule clog or Christmas block, is a winter tradition in Europe and North America involving the burning of a specially selected log on a hearth. Its origins are unclear but may trace back to Proto-Indo-European religion, similar to practices in Celtic, Germanic, Baltic, and Slavic paganism.

As an "emblem of divine light," the Yule log is part of customs centered around Midwinter, which included feasting, drinking, and sacrifices (blót). Many of these traditions, like the Yule goat and Yule boar (Sonargöltr), have influenced modern customs such as Christmas ham and Yule singing, reflecting the significance of these celebrations in pre-Christian times. Merry Christmas 2024! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_log

This Sunday will be cloudy, high of 54°F. Monday brings rain and a high of 51°F. Tuesday sees some clearing with a high of 58°F. Wednesday will be partly sunny, reaching 58°F. Thursday will be mostly sunny, with a high of 57°F. Friday starts partly cloudy, high around 58°F, with showers at night. Saturday will be mostly cloudy, high near 60°F. https://www.kcra.com/weather

In mid-December, stargazers can expect several highlights:

- December 15: Altair disappears; Algol dims at 9:58 p.m. EST.

- December 16: The waning Moon rises with Pollux and Castor.

- December 17: The Moon is above Mars, and Io transits Jupiter at 7:05 p.m. EST.

- December 18: Sirius rises around 8 p.m.

- December 19: The Moon is near Regulus, and Jupiter’s moons form a triangle at midnight.

- December 20: Sirius and Procyon appear as Saturn approaches Venus.

- December 21: Winter solstice, marking longer days.

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-december-13-22/

The Yule goat is a significant symbol of Yule and Christmas in Scandinavian and Northern European traditions, with roots in Germanic paganism. Its origins can be linked to the worship of Thor, the Norse god who rode a chariot pulled by two goats. Throughout history, the Yule goat has taken on various forms, transitioning from an invisible spirit ensuring proper Yule preparations to a gift-bringer in the 19th century. Today, it is commonly represented as a straw ornament adorned with red ribbons, often found under or on the Christmas tree, showcasing the fascinating evolution of traditions over time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_goat

On December 8, the first-quarter Moon will be above Saturn, with the faint Circlet of Pisces nearby.

On December 9, the Andromeda Galaxy will be high in the sky after dinner.

December 10 features the Big Dipper setting early but standing upright in the northeast later.

On December 11, Sirius will rise around 8 p.m., marked by the dim star Mirzam.

The Great Square of Pegasus will be high after sunset on December 12.

On December 13, the nearly full Moon will shine above Jupiter and Aldebaran.

Finally, December 14 is the full Moon, peaking at 4:02 a.m., which may obscure the Geminid meteor shower. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-december-6-15/

Yule is a winter festival with historical roots among the Germanic peoples, which has been assimilated into Christmas following the Christianization of these cultures. Some modern religious movements, particularly those practicing Modern Germanic paganism, continue to celebrate Yule independently. Scholars link the original Yule festivities to various ancient traditions, including the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the Anglo-Saxon celebration of Mōdraniht, or "Mothers' Night." The term "Yule" and its variations remain in use today to refer to Christmas and other winter celebrations in English and Scandinavian languages, as well as in Finnish and Estonian. Notably, many contemporary Christmas traditions, such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, and Yule singing, may have origins in...

This week is expected to have partly cloudy skies, with daytime temperatures hovering between 57 and 63°F. At the beginning of the week, we will see mostly sunny weather on Monday and Tuesday, with nighttime lows ranging from 34 to 41°F. As the week progresses, Wednesday and Thursday will feature a blend of clouds and sunshine. The weekend will wrap up with a similar mix of weather on Friday and Saturday. https://www.kcra.com/weather

On December 1, telescope users can see Jupiter's moon Io transit the planet at 9:02 p.m. EST. A New Moon occurs at 1:21 a.m. EST.

On December 2, the Andromeda Galaxy and Perseus Double Cluster are visible to the naked eye.

On December 3, the crescent Moon will be near Venus, and on December 4, they will be just a few degrees apart.

On December 6, Orion rises, and December 7 showcases Saturn near the Moon, with Jupiter at opposition. It's also the earliest sunset of the year for those near latitude 40° north. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-november-29-december-8/