-BY JAMES EDGAR
The Moon has just passed last quarter as De
cember opens, and Neptune and Jupiter are both 3 degrees north on the 1st. On Wednesday, December 7, Mars is occulted for viewers in the Western HemisphereÐwatch for it beginning at 9 CST. It is fascinating to watch the Solar System in motion as the full Moon covers one of the planets for a time. The event can last for upwards of an hour, as first the planet blinks out of sight on the east limb of the Moon, then pops back into view an hour (or so) later at the western edge. On the 11th, Pollux, one of the Gemini twins, is 1.8 degrees north of the Moon, which happens to be at its furthest distance from EarthÐapogee of 404,888 km. New Moon is on the 23rd, and perigee is on the next day, making for extreme tides for coastal areas. In a very difficult observation on the 24th, Venus and Mercury are 3 degrees and 4 degrees, respectively, north of a mostly invisible Moon. On the 26th, Saturn is 4 degrees north; Neptune is 3 degrees north on the 28th; Jupiter is 2 degrees north on the 29th.
Mercury leads Venus up the western evening ecliptic for most of the month, ending in a conjunction (both objects on the same meridian) on the 29th. Reach for your binoculars for this event to make it more enjoyable.
Venus hugs the horizon shortly after sunset, paired up with Mercury all month, and the Moon on the 23rd (see above).
Mars is at its closest approach to Earth for 2022 on December 1; opposition is on the 8th, owing to the Red PlanetÕs asymmetrical orbit (not round). Be sure to watch for the occultation on the 8th, as noted above.
Jupiter shines prominently throughout the evening hours in the constellation Pisces, The Fish. The Moon passes by twice in December, first as a waxing gibbous apparition on the 1st, and as a waxing crescent on the 29th.
Saturn is in the southern sky at evening twilight, joining up with the Moon on the 26th. Uranus is visited by the Moon on the 5th, as noted above. Neptune is retrograding in Aquarius until the 4th, becomes stationary, and begins prograde motion thereafter.
Winter solstice is on the evening of December 21.
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 Observers Handbook, and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 (22421) Jamesedgar in his honour and in 2021 he was awarded a Fellowship of the RASC.
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