Myth: astronomy is an expensive hobby that requires telescopes in order to have a good time. Fact: with just your two eyes, there can be plenty to enjoy in the night sky, provided you know what to look for. So, what follows is a list of astronomical goings-on for December, all of which are naked eye.
Note: sunrise/set times are for the Cleveland area, namely 41 degrees North latitude. For anyone reading this who lives at a vastly different latitude, say 10 degrees above or below 40N, your sunrise/set times will be very different.
Early Month: It may be December, but you can still catch the Summer Triangle under dark skies early in the evening.
December 1: Mars now rises at midnight, First Quarter Moon
December 3: Earliest sunset of the year at 4:57pm.
December 4: Mercury is at inferior conjunction (directly between us and the Sun)
December 5: Saturn is now rising 4 hours ahead of the Sun.
December 6: Jupiter, which gets brushed by the Moon tonight, is now setting at 4am.
December 8: The Moon splits the Pleiades and Hyades.
December 9: Venus sets 2 hours after the Sun.
December 10: The Full Moon gets skewered by Taurus. There's an eclipse tonight, but us Cleveland (and Eastern U.S. residents) won't be able to see it.
December 13: Can you see Mercury in the predawn sky yet?
December 14: Geminid Meteors peak
December 17: Third Quarter Moon
December 18: Mercury is as high as it will get this appearance.
December 19: The Moon makes a triangle with Saturn and Spica, will repeat (albeit in a new shape) tomorrow.
December 22: Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, a thin crescent Moon, Antares, and Mercury meet up in the predawn sky, Ursid Meteors peak, Mercury is at its highest.
December 23: A near Old Moon is just to the left of Antares, below Mercury just before dawn. Grab the binoculars.
December 24: Third Quarter Moon
December 25: thin Crescent Moon meets Venus, scenario (with easier Moon) repeats tomorrow
December 29: The Sun rises at 7:54am, its latest rise of the year.
Late Month: The longest nights are here, which makes for a great time to see a star twice in a night.
Now for viewing. The Cleveland area weather forecast is always looking very iffy for this time of year. So, for an even more up-to date, hour-by-hour weather forecast, check out the Cleveland Clear Sky Clock to see what the night will bring. Live somewhere else? Find a clock near you.
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National Space News Examiner
National Photography
Cleveland Photography Examiner
Cleveland Astronomy
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Featured sight for week of 11/20: Old Moon
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Bodzash Photography and Astronomy
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