SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

The Sun and Moon

There is a partial solar eclipse on Christmas Day.

Solstice occurs on Earth on 21 December, marking the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and the start of summer in the south. As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the non-zodiacal constellation Ophiuchus to Sagittarius.

The phases of the Moon are

First Quarter : 4 December
Full : 11 December
Last Quarter : 18 December
New : 25 December

The Moon is at apogee on 1 December, at perigee on 12 December, and at apogee again on 28 December.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Northern hemisphere observers can watch Mercury plummet towards the horizon in the morning sky as it nears superior conjunction with the Sun on 25 December. (The decline in altitude is much less pronounced when viewed from the southern hemisphere.) The closest planet to the Sun races through the constellations Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Sagittarius but will be lost from view by the end of the month.
Venus
The "evening star" shines brightly high in the west after sunset. Look for it in the constellations Sagittarius and Capricornus.
Mars
The red planet is in the constellation Virgo and rises in the early morning hours.
Jupiter
That bright object in Taurus is the planet Jupiter.
Saturn
The ringed planet can be see for most of the night in the constellation Taurus.
Uranus
This ringed gas giant is getting lower in the southwest in the constellation Capricornus.
Neptune
Neptune rises during the evening in the constellation Capricornus.
Pluto
Pluto is at conjunction on 4 December and is too close to the Sun to be seen at any time this month.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
There are four interesting meteor showers this month. The waxing Moon may cause some interference during the 6 December peaks of the two southern hemisphere showers, the Phoenicids and the Puppid-Velids. The usually reliable Geminids peak at 17 UT on 14 December but probably will be lost in moonlight. However, the Ursids, which peak on 22 December, should escape lunar interference.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of Sky & Telescope and in other fine amateur astronomy magazines available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA.

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Last modified on 30 November 2000
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