Space Weather News for Dec. 23, 2007
http://spaceweather.com

MOON AND MARS: At sunset on Sunday, Dec. 23rd, the full Moon and Mars will
rise in the east less than two degrees apart. So close together, the two
brightest objects in the evening sky look absolutely dynamite. The display
will be visible all night long, even from brightly lit cities, and requires
no telescope to enjoy.

URSID UPDATE: Observers in Europe report a modest outburst of Ursid meteors
last night. The intensity and timing of the flurry is in good accord with
predictions that Earth would run into a stream of dust from Comet 8P/Tuttle
on Dec. 22nd. Now that the meteor shower is over, attention turns to the
comet itself. After a 13.6 year absence, 8P/Tuttle is once again traveling
through the inner solar system. At closest approach to Earth on Jan. 1st and
2nd, 2008, the comet, will brighten to 5th or 6th magnitude--a fine target
for backyard telescopes and digital cameras.