Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

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Get ready for a sky show above Minnesota Wednesday night.

Bright Venus radiates in the western sky after sunset. And the final supermoon of 2020 will rise in the east a few minutes before 8 p.m.

Here are some viewing tips for Wednesday night.

Meteorological conditions across Minnesota will be nearly ideal for sky-watching. Skies will be mostly clear as cumulus clouds evaporate in the evening sky by sunset. NOAA’s NAM 3 km resolution model shows mostly clear conditions across Minnesota by 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The atmosphere over Minnesota is also very dry Wednesday night. Dew points in the teens north to 30s south means crystal clear air with little or no haze to obstruct visibility. 

Stars and planets should appear sharp in the sky.

Step outside around 9 p.m. You’ll still see the glow of sunset on the northwest horizon. That brilliant silvery light in the western sky is Venus. Here’s what you will see at 9:16 p.m. in the western sky 

Now, turn over your left shoulder toward the southeast. You’ll see the bright May Flower Supermoon rising in the southeast sky.

by the moons of the year that are closest to earth. The closer proximity reflects more sunlight back toward the earth. It’s like holding a flashlight closer. 

Supermoons can be 7 to 15 percent brighter than other moons of the year. The moon will be full at 5:45 a.m. CDT.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

Bright Venus and the last supermoon of 2020 put on a show above Minnesota Wednesday night.

NASA/JPL Caltech

NOAA NAM 3 km model forecast total cloud fraction at 10 pm tonight

NOAA via tropical tidbits

NOAA HRRR model dew point forecast for 10 pm tonight

Sky show Wednesday night: Bright Venus and last supermoon of 2020

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