Actual Astronomy - Observer's Guide - December

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. [email protected]

- Dec 3-4 – Moon 0.8° N of Pleiades (Occults stars in Virginia)

Carbon Star U Lyr best tonight

- Dec 4 – Full Moon in Taurus

- Dec 7 – Jupiter 4° South of Moon

Mercury Greatest Elongation 21° from Sun in morning Sky

Endymion sunset rays visible on Moon

- Dec 7-8 Moon and M44

- Dec 8 – 16 Psyche at Opposition 9.4 magnitude

Asteroid 16 Psyche is a large, metal-rich asteroid, thought to be the exposed core of a protoplanet, located between Mars and Jupiter. It is composed of a high concentration of nickel and iron and is estimated to be worth an astronomical amount of metal. Scientists are studying it to learn more about the formation of Earth's core and other rocky planets, and a NASA mission is currently underway to explore it.

- Dec 10 – Moon Occults Regulus 2am

- Dec 13 – Geminid Meteor Shower – up to 150 ZHR on morning of the 14th.

- Dec 21 – Ursid meteor Shower – 10 zhr

- Dec 22 Moon Occults Pluto at 4pm EST

- Dec 23 Carbon Star Z Psc best tonight

- Dec 24 Comet 24P Schaumasse visible tonight

Marie called it again…we have yet another bright comet…8.5 magnitude by mid month, moon leaves sky on 11/12th

- Dec 25  Saturn Ring Tilt -0.76

- Dec 26 – Lunar X near crater Werner visible

- Dec 27 — Saturn, Neptune and Moon congregate in evening sky.

Lunar Straight Wall visible

- Dec 29 – Jeweled Handle Visible On Moon

- Dec 31 – Moon 0.9° N of Pleiades

Carbon Star T Lyn best tonight

 

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