We are closed on Dec 24th-26th and from Dec 30th-Jan 1st. We are open on Dec 27th, 28th and 29th and again from Jan 2nd onwards as normal. 
December can be a magical and special time of year for many people across Ireland, and one of the things that enhances this is our dazzling night sky. Keep reading to learn all about what you will see if you look up towards the stars this month, and what Santa will see as he travels towards us on December 24th.
Geminids Meteor Shower
This month we see the annual return of the Geminids meteor shower, which will peak on December 13th. This is one of the most active of the meteor showers we experience, rivaling the Perseids in August, with rates of up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Unfortunately, the full moon on December 15th may obscure many of the fainter meteors from sight this year. Try to position yourself so that the moon is obscured by an object to mitigate the moon’s brightness. The radiant point (the point from which the meteors seem to come from) is near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini, which is highest in the sky around 2am. As the Gemini twins rise higher in the sky, the more Geminid meteors you should see. They should appear in all parts of the sky, and if you’re lucky you should be able to spot some of the brightest of these, despite the moon.
Image Credit: Stellarium
Winter Solstice
On December 21st, we will experience the winter solstice, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. This happens when the Earth is tilted farthest away from the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere. This also marks the beginning of astronomical winter. Here in Ireland, this gives us just about 7 hours and 45 minutes of daylight. For anyone visiting us here at Blackrock Castle, in Cork we would see sunrise at 8:39am and sunset at 4:25pm. This should provide ample hours for some evening stargazing over the winter holidays, if the weather permits.
The winter solstice has been celebrated for thousands of years as a time of rebirth and the return of the Sun. Newgrange is a 5200-year-old passage tomb in Co. Meath, that is aligned with the winter solstice. Around the solstice sunlight enters a small opening above the entrance of the tomb and entirely illuminates the passage and inner chamber at sunrise for several minutes. This showcases the impressive understanding and knowledge of astronomy of its Stone Age builders. You can visit Newgrange all year round, but for the solstice entry is decided on by lottery, with thousands of people applying annually.
The Night Sky on Christmas Eve
As Santa Claus travels the world on the night of December 24th he will start his journey at the North Pole, which has been experiencing polar night since the Autumnal Equinox. This is a period of constant darkness, with the sun not rising above the horizon at all during the day. This lasts for 6 months, until the Spring Equinox, when it will switch to polar day. This happens because the Earth is tilted. One pole points toward the Sun for half the year and away from it for the other half. Santa will see various constellations and planets as he travels the Earth, and he may even use them as a way to navigate and locate towns and cities. Let’s see what will be in our sky when he gets to Ireland.
The Sun will set around 4.30pm and some of our planets will appear shortly afterwards. Look southwest to spot Venus, the brightest object in our night sky besides the moon. Left of Venus, you should see Saturn which will appear a lot dimmer than Venus, but still brighter than the majority of our stars. Venus will set after 8.30pm, but Saturn should stay visible until 10.30pm. Jupiter will also be up in the east and visible until morning, having reached opposition on December 7th. This is when Jupiter is at its closest to us and will appear at its brightest for the year. Mars will begin to rise shortly after 6.30pm and will appear festive, showing off its characteristic red hue. The following image shows the sky at 9pm on Christmas Eve. We can’t predict what time Santa will reach our houses, but he should see something similar to this once he gets here.
Image Credit: Stellarium
International Space Station Flyovers
The International Space Station (ISS) will make several passes over Ireland throughout December. The ISS looks like a bright, fast-moving star as it zips across the sky, and it’s often visible in the early evening. Even though the ISS circles the Earth every 90 minutes, it doesn’t always pass above Ireland and sometimes it misses us for several days. Check apps like Heavens-Above or NASA’s Spot the Station for exact timings. Some of these flyovers can be seen high in the sky and last several minutes, while some you may only spot for a few seconds. Take the opportunity to wave up the astronauts on board while our nights are longest.
Festive Evenings at BCO
If you are looking for something a bit different to do with your family this Christmas, why not visit us this month for a Festive Evening at Blackrock Castle. Your experience begins with a captivating Star Show in our theatre, where our expert team members will guide you through the magical winter night sky. From there, immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere as you explore the castle’s beautiful holiday interior. You can participate in crafts, letter writing and you’ll even hear a special message from Santa. Our festive evenings will run from 29th Nov – 22nd Dec. Tickets for these special visits can be purchased here.
Wishing you starry skies!
Blog post written by Jane Dooley