The Sky At A Glance

The December Solstice occurs at 7:04 am EST on December 21; this is the instant when the Sun reaches the southernmost point of its annual journey on the celestial sphere. By convention, it also marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Evening Planets (after sunset)

• Mercury, SW
• Jupiter, SW
• Venus, SW
• Neptune, SW
• Uranus, S

Visible at Midnight

• Saturn, E

Morning Planets (before sunrise)

• Saturn, S

85P/Boethin, which reaches perihelion mid-month, may get as bright as magnitude 7 or 8. It enters Aquarius as the month begins, then crosses it and, by the 18th, moves into Pisces. On the 21st, it slides about 6° NW of somewhat brighter Uranus. Between the 27th and the 30th it can be found passing through the "Eyelet" of Pisces.

The Geminid meteors peak on December 13 - unfortunately, one day after Full Moon - and so are washed out this year.

The Ursid meteors peak on December 22, but remain active for 4-5 days before or after that date. The Moon should be favorably placed and will not interfere. The shower averages about 5 meteors per hour, but has occasionally generated as many as 30/hr. The radiant is in Ursa Minor, and so is circumpolar and visible all night