Comet Lovejoy is plunging toward the sun, and its ~200-meter wide core is vaporizing furiously as it approaches the stellar surface.

The comet is now brighter than Jupiter, but not quite as bright as Venus. If these developments continue, Comet Lovejoy could become visible to the naked eye in broad daylight before the end of Dec. 15th. 

Check http://spaceweather.com for further discussion and the latest movies from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory.

December 10, 2011    Total Lunar Eclipse

Al Mcknight and Pete Pel are planning to go to McGowan Park to observe and possibly photograph some of the event. Weather permitting they will be there around 4 AM. Hopefully there will be a few more brave souls to join them!

Penumbral Eclipse Begins:   11:33:32 UT (3:33:32 AM PST)
Partial Eclipse Begins       :   12:45:42 UT
Total Eclipse Begins         :    14:06:16 UT
Greatest Eclipse                :   14:31:49  UT
Total Eclipse Ends             :   14:57:24  UT
Partial Eclipse Ends          :   16:17:58  UT
Penumbral Eclipse Ends   :   17:30:00  UT  (9:30 AM PST)
(Data from RASC 2011 Observers Handbook Page 133)

http://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar-eclipse-december-10-2011.html