Christmas Eve ‘Trinity’ Above Washington / Oregon Coast? Holiday Beach Astronomy

Christmas Eve ‘Trinity’ Above Washington / Oregon Coast? Holiday Beach Astronomy

Published 12/14/22 at 3:25 AM
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Oregon Coast) – The holidays always create a special vibe along the Oregon coast and Washington coast. But what about above them? (Graphic copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

This year, you could be seeing what’s nicknamed The Christmas Eve “Trinity” overhead, not just on the Washington coast or Oregon coast but many in places around the world. Two fairly bright planets will be clustered close to the moon low on the horizon, making an especially bright kind of conjunction in the “black” (as one famous show called it). It’s supposed to be a rather stunning triangle low in the SW skies.

Even before then, the Geminids should still be raging overhead, one of the brightest meteor showers of the year. They end on the 24th.

The Christmas Eve Trinity is usually referred to just a conjunction, but some publications have opted for the more glittery term. You’ll want to look low in the SW, which which will be easy from the coastlines of Oregon or Washington, from places like Westport, Manzanita, Port Orford or Yachats. Take a gander of the area about 30 minutes after sunset (which will be about 4:30 p.m. for most of the Pacific Northwest).

This lovely triangle, according to EarthSky.org, will only be around for 30 or 40 minutes. Binoculars are suggested if you really want to take it in full effect. From the moon, you should get that ethereal earthshine, where the sun reflects back on the new moon, lighting it up faintly. It’s a rather spectacular sky detail all its own.

Nearby will be the reddish Mercury and the bright Venus. A ways above all that will be Saturn, creating what EarthSky termed a “creamy light.”

This soaring triangle is described as being a bit like a Christmas ornament.

Both planets will have set by 6 p.m., out of view from the Oregon coast, Washington coast or areas like Seattle and Portland.

The planet Mercury will reach its longest elongation on the 21st, which means it’s sticking incredibly low to the horizon for awhile.

More interstellar fun begins on December 21 with the winter solstice, with the sun reaching that official point at 1:47 p.m. in the Northwest. This brings the shortest day of the year, and the various Pagan / ancient UK traditions that created much of the Christmas themes we have today.

Also something to look forward around this time of year: sunset colors along the Oregon coast or Washington coast.

Awhile back, Jim Todd, astronomy expert with Portland’s OMSI, told Oregon Coast Beach Connection:

“Because of the low angle of the sun’s arc, it will produce the longest and most spectacular sunrises and sunsets of the year,” Todd said.

Sunsets literally linger a tiny bit longer, he said. The end of twilight is defined as when the sun dips 18 degrees below the horizon. Todd said this point is reached more quickly in the summer than in the winter, again because of the arc of the sun.