View the Florida sky as we ring in the new year

 As 2023 approaches, observe all the other planets and enjoy a meteor shower.

As a certified dark sky location, Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve provides the type of surroundings ideal for observing evening activities. This New Year, a pair of noteworthy celestial occurrences coincide with it.

By Jack Evans

Over the next several evenings, there won't just be ubiquitous fireworks displays lighting up the sky: There will also be some spectacular natural events.

It could require some preparation, some luck, and possibly a pair of binoculars to see them. However, those who are in the right position at the right time will have the opportunity to interact with a celestial show that is even older than the very old custom of fireworks.

The seven other planets in the solar system will no longer be all visible in the night sky after the New Year, a period of many nights. The Quadrantids meteor shower will then reach its peak on January 3.

Neither occurrence is particularly unusual. Every year or two, there is a planet alignment; the most recent one occurred in June. Additionally, the Quadrantids shower happens every year. However, there is an opportunity to witness two events that might be extremely beautiful within a few days, according to Charlie Dittmar, an astronomer at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry.

According to Dittmar, the planetary alignment was at its peak on Wednesday, but there is still a narrow window to capture it in the coming days. The most challenging planet in this situation is Mercury, which, under ideal circumstances, will appear low in the west just after sunset.

When Mercury is accessible, "there's generally a pretty lovely small slice of the night," he remarked. There cannot be any haze, clouds, or other issues obstructing the view of the sky.

It is advantageous to be in an area with a low horizon and minimal light pollution, such as a deserted beach. Although Mercury may be seen with the unaided eye, spectators are likely to require a pair of binoculars to distinguish it from the haze.

Neptune and Uranus are two more planets that can only be seen with binoculars or a telescope. But according to Dittmar, the remaining objects should be simpler to spot for skywatchers: Venus, which is brighter than the moon and is also low in the western sky (identify it, then scan the area for Mercury), Saturn, which is orange and more southerly, Jupiter, which is dazzling white and directly to the south, and Mars, which is gleaming and reddish, are all visible.

As many as 100 meteors may be seen per hour at the Quadrantids' peak, which NASA considers to be one of the best yearly showers, according to Dittmar. He said that, in contrast to other showers, this one had blue meteors due to its mineral composition.

Dittmar advised staying as far away from city lights as you can in order to view the shower as clearly as possible. Then, "all you need is a blanket or a chair to relax on while you wait for your eyes to adapt."

He said that all except the brightest meteors will be tougher to view due to the moon being close to full, but observers may make up for this by setting up behind a structure that will protect them from the moonlight.

According to Dittmar, it is nice that the planets and Quadrantids are present at the same time as the New Year.

When he stared up at the sky, he remarked, "I tend to think about all the generations and generations and generations of people who have looked at the sky before me. That's one of the things that's soothing to me." While the sky keeps me connected to the past, the fact of the New Year keeps me connected to the future.

"The sky will remain the sky, no matter how crazy things get here on Earth."