Astronomy column for December with Astro Dog
In this month’s edition of our night sky guide we will be going over what to look out for during December.
The month of December hosts the day of the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year and the start of astronomical winter.
The long nights are great for enjoying the night sky, all the winter constellations, including the asterism known as the Winter Circle, are now easily visible, and there’s also the peak of one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year – the famous Geminid meteor shower.
Please find a selection of stargazing highlights to look out for this month:
• December 4, Moon partially occults the Pleiades star cluster, plus full Super Cold Moon.
• December 7, Moon appears close by to Jupiter and bright star Pollux, plus Mercury reaches Greatest Western Elongation (appearing at its furthest away from the Sun).
• December 10, Moon occults the bright star Regulus.
• December 11, Last quarter moon.
• December 14, Moon appears close by to bright star Spica, plus peak of the Geminid meteor shower.
• December 18, Moon appears close by to planet Mercury.
• December 20, New moon.
• December 21, Winter Solstice.
• December 24, Moon appears close by to bright star Deneb Algedi.
• December 26, Moon appears close by to planet Saturn.
• December 27, First quarter moon.
• December 29, Moon appears close by to bright stars Hamal and Sheratan.
• December 31, Moon appears close by to the Pleiades star cluster.
If you would like to learn more, you can find detailed information on all of these astronomical events and more by watching our Night Sky Guide video for the month of December on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@astrodoguk or visit www.astro-dog.co.uk.
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If you head out to enjoy the night sky at any point in the near future, we wish you all good luck and clear skies!