The Skies

Sun and Moon Data

To find sun and moon rising and setting times for your park or office, go to the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day webpage.

Night Skies

An update on the moon, planets and night skies for December.

Visible planets during the period:

• Mars – Mars is visible in the early evening near the southwestern horizon.
• Jupiter – Jupiter rises just after sunset and is bright above the eastern horizon soon thereafter.
• Venus – Venus continues to be visible in the pre-dawn southeastern sky.
• Saturn – Saturn is also visible in the early morning sky, rising about a half hour before Venus.
• Mercury – Mercury rises about 40 minutes after Venus.

Calendar of upcoming celestial events:

• Tuesday, 12/11 – The moon passes close by Venus and Mercury in the morning sky, with Saturn just above the trio.
• Thursday, 12/13 – The moon is new (dark). The Geminid meteor shower is at its peak.
• Friday, 12/14 – The crescent moon is just to the right of Mars.
• Thursday, 12/20 – The moon is at first quarter.
• Friday, 12/21 – Winter solstice occurs just after 6 a.m. EST.
• Friday, 12/28 – The moon is full.

For more information on stars, planets and other night sky phenomena, go to “The Sky This Week” page at the U.S. Naval Observatory page at http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this-week

The Weather

Watches and Warnings

The principal watches and warnings posted as of early this morning were as follows. Note that these change over the course of a day and represent only initial daily forecasts. Click on this link for a full-sized map showing these hazards:

• Red flag warnings – Southern California.
• Winter storm watches, warnings and advisories – Northern Idaho, northwest Montana, northern Wisconsin and Michigan, northern New York and New England.
• High wind watches, warnings and advisories – Areas in southern and northeast Texas, southeast Wyoming, the southern Appalachians.

For additional information on severe weather, go to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ .

Today’s NPS History

In The Parks

On December 10, 1896, after service as a fort, entertainment pavilion, and immigrant depot, the structure at the tip of Manhattan Island successively known as Castle Clinton and Castle Garden reopened as the New York City Aquarium.  It is now Castle Clinton National Monument. Click here for other park anniversary dates.

In Memoriam

There were no NPS on duty deaths on this date. Click here for a full list of on-duty deaths.

From The Morning Report Archives

Today’s incident from the Morning Report archives:

Biscayne NP – A plane which was being pursued by US Customs and FBI agents crashed 15 miles north of park headquarter on the afternoon of August 29, 1988. The plane was carrying 320 kilograms of cocaine. Rangers assisted in the investigation.

Contact Information
Name: Bill Halainen, Editor