MANX SKY AT NIGHT - DECEMBER 2020

In our dark skies, THAT conjunction - between Jupiter and Saturn - is still visible (weather permitting) in the evenings between 5pm and 6pm .....both are joined by Mercury and the Moon around January 9th, before each go behind the Sun, on the 29th and 24th respectively .....Venus is still visible in the mornings ...and the Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks on the 3rd/4th January - often overlooked, but probably the third best one of the year. The music break is Hotel California by The Eagles And in space news ..... the total collapse of the Arecibo telescope .... Japanese Hayabusa 2 has brought valuable material from Asteroid Ryugu ....Chinese Chang'e 5 has brought a significant amount of  rock back from the Moon ..... and Howard discusses the SpaceX spectacular test launch of Starship SN8 - there was a problem with the final landing, but this shouldn't detract from the fact that the spacecraft used a new technique for re-entry which was a total success.