Sky Events for:
December - 2022
12/01 Mars is nearest to Earth at just over .5 AU (AU = distance from Earth to Sun)
Evening: Moon is 2.8° SE of Neptune.
Evening: Moon is 2.25° SE of Jupiter.
12/05 Evening: Moon is .65° N of Uranus.
12/06 Evening: Moon is ~ 3° SE of the Pleiades.
12/07 Full Moon: December is called “Cold Moon”, ”Oak Moon”, and “Long Nights Moon”
**** Mars at opposition. (Opposite the Sun). Also this month is this years near
approach to Earth.
**** Mars Occultation. The Moon will cover Mars. Depending on your location,
timing will be slightly different. For Mid New Mexico, Mars will disappear
at 7:41 pm MST. For Denver 7:43pm. The occultation will last about an hour,
and then Mars will reappear on the other side of the Moon. It is interesting
to watch how different the motion of the Moon and the rest of the sky
moves. For the Mountain Standard Time region, start watching early 7:15 –
7:30 and see the Moon move closer and closer to Mars, and then occult it.
This event can be viewed naked eye, although binoculars or a telescope will
give a much clearer view of when Mars actually slips behind the Moon. With
Mars at opposition, this is an ideal time to view more detail on Mars with a
telescope. Lets hope for clear skies to enjoy this event. For cities further to
the East in the US, Mars will just skim below the Moon. In New Orleans, for
instance, Mars will be 3’ below the Moon. With closest separation at 9:11
CST.
12/08 Earliest sunset at 40° North Latitude.
12/10 Evening: The Moon, Castor and Pollux will form a triangle as they rise in the
northeast.
12/14 Morning: Geminid Meteor shower. While you’re out, before sunrise, look to the
south to see the Moon ~ 4° from Regulus.
12/16 Last quarter Moon
12/18 Morning: Moon ~ 4° NNE of Spica near the southeastern horizon.
12/21 December Solstice (winter in northen hemisphere) 2:48 pm MST.
Evening: Mercury at easternmost elongation.
12/22 Morning: Moon ~2° NNE of Antares.
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