On the 2nd, the Moon is only 0.2 degrees north of the cluster M35. By the 7th, the minor planet Vesta is occulted in the Eastern Hemisphere, only 0.8 degrees away for us in the west. With the new Moon on the 14th comes the second eclipse of the season, this time a total solar eclipse beginning in the southern Pacific Ocean, crossing southern South America, and on out into the Atlantic. Many intrepid eclipse chasers will be in Santiago or Valparaiso to bask briefly under the Moon’s shadow. A few days later, on the 17th, Jupiter and Saturn are both 3 degrees north of our satellite. Neptune shares the sky with the Moon on the 20th, but a telescope is required to see the disk of the blue-green planet. On the 23rd, Mars is 3 degrees north of the Moon and Uranus is slightly further east. Once again, M35 is 0.2 degrees south of the Moon on the 29th, and the Moon is full that same evening.
Mercury is not visible this month.
Venus gradually drops lower and lower to the horizon as the month progresses, rounding in its orbit to soon pass behind the Sun. The Moon passes by on the 12th.
Mars, while still a prominent evening object, loses much of its glory as the month goes by. It shrinks in apparent size and fades from magnitude –1.1 to mag. –0.2, so only half as bright by month end. The waxing gibbous Moon passes by on the 23rd.
Jupiter and Saturn reach conjunction on December 21. They have been gradually closing together for months now, culminating in this very close approach of 0.1 degree, a relatively rare event. Look for the two gas giants near the western horizon just after sunset. The Moon will have passed by on the 16th.
Uranus is high in the sky at sunset, falling below the western horizon near midnight.
Neptune likewise sets near midnight, offering only a brief window of opportunity for viewing.
The Geminid meteor shower peaks on the 14th, and a total solar eclipse occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.
The winter solstice is on the 21st at 10:02 UT, as the Sun reaches its furthest point south and begins its long journey north.
December 22 marks the peak of the Ursid meteor shower at 9 UT.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was National President for two terms, is now the Editor of the renowned Observer’s Handbook, and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour.
-James Edgar
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