Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

Wednesday, 18 December 2024 20:26

Monday 23rd to Sunday 29th December 2024

I have managed to sneak a preview of the top secret plans for Santa's route on Christmas morning, delivering all the presents! If you are up early and it is a clear sky, you might be able to see him. Look towards the north north west at 6.08am on 25th and you should be able to spot what looks like a bright star, travelling almost directly over your head. It will disappear towards the east three minutes later.

You won't be able to make out Santa's sleigh or the individual reindeer because they are so high up and travelling so fast to be able to visit all the houses around the World - just look for that pinpoint of light travelling at supersonic speed!

Keeping with the festive theme.....how about a free gift? For years I have used some free software on my computer called Stellarium to plan an evening's stargazing and to make the screenshots that I post on the Stars Over Somerset website. It is excellent and in many ways, superior to the commercial software packages that can cost a small fortune!

Well Stellarium is also available through the App Store as a free download for your phone.....and it works brilliantly if you are outside and would like to know what you are looking at in real time.

It will even show you the International Space Station when it is passing over the UK, like on the morning of 25th.

On that note, it just remains for me to wish all our listeners a very peaceful Christmas and clear skies for the New Year.

www.starsoversomerset.com

Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium

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