Astronomy Events for Dec 2024
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Pheonicid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Pheonicid meteor shower reaches its peak. The Moon at perihelion Remind MeThe Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon. - 4
Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Remind MeThe Moon and Venus share the same right ascension, at a separation of 2°15'. Close approach of the Moon and Venus Remind MeThe Moon and Venus pass close to each other. - 5
Conjunction of Ceres and Pluto Remind MeCeres and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 3°50'. December Ï-Cassiopeid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe December Ï-Cassiopeid meteor shower reaches its peak. Mercury at inferior solar conjunction Remind MeMercury passes around the near side of the Sun. - 6
Jupiter at perigee Remind MeJupiter reaches its closest point to the Earth – marking the best time to observe it in 1970. Mercury at perihelion Remind MeMercury passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Puppid-Velid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Puppid-Velid meteor shower reaches its peak. Mars enters retrograde motion Remind MeMars reverses its direction of motion across the sky. - 7
Conjunction of Venus and Pluto Remind MeVenus and Pluto share the same right ascension, at a separation of 53'. Jupiter at opposition Remind MeJupiter lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it slightly closer, brighter and larger than at other times. It is also optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. Neptune ends retrograde motion Remind MeNeptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. - 8
Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Remind MeThe Moon and Saturn pass close to each other. Lunar occultation of Saturn Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Saturn, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Indonesia, Japan, Philippines and Papua New Guinea amongst others. Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Remind MeThe Moon and Saturn share the same right ascension, at a separation of 18'. Conjunction of Venus and Ceres Remind MeVenus and Ceres share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°44'. Moon at First Quarter Remind MeThe Moon reaches first quarter phase – appearing high in the sky at sunset and setting in the west at around midnight. Monocerotid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Monocerotid meteor shower reaches its peak. - 9
Lunar occultation of Neptune Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Neptune, creating a lunar occultation visible from Russia, Alaska, Japan and China. - 11
Ï-Hydrid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Ï-Hydrid meteor shower reaches its peak. - 12
The Moon at perigee Remind MeThe Moon makes its monthly closest approach to the Earth, making it appear fractionally larger than at other times of the month. The Large Magellanic Cloud is well placed Remind MeThe Milky Way's dwarf companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC; mag 0.9), in Dorado culminates at around midnight local time. - 13
Close approach of the Moon and M45 Remind MeThe Moon and M45 pass close to each other. - 14
Geminid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. The Moon at aphelion Remind MeThe Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Sun, which happens each month around the time of full moon. Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Remind MeThe Moon and Jupiter pass close to each other. Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Remind MeThe Moon and Jupiter share the same right ascension, at a separation of 5°28'. Asteroid 15 Eunomia at opposition Remind MeAsteroid 15 Eunomia makes closest approach to the Earth. The Running Man cluster is well placed Remind MeThe Running Man cluster NGC 1977 (mag 4.2) in Orion's sword culminates at around midnight local time. The Orion Nebula is well placed Remind MeThe Orion Nebula (M42; mag 4.0) culminates at around midnight local time. - 15
Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Beta Tauri (Elnath), creating a lunar occultation visible from Polynesia, South America, Central America and Clipperton Island. Full Moon Remind MeThe Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Comae Berenicid meteor shower reaches its peak. - 18
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Remind MeThe Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 54'. Close approach of the Moon and Mars Remind MeThe Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Lunar occultation of Mars Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Canada, Greenland, Russia and Alaska amongst others. - 19
December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe December Leonis Minorid meteor shower reaches its peak. - 20
Mercury at dichotomy Remind MeMercury reaches half phase in the dawn sky. - 21
December solstice Remind Me21 December will be the shortest day of 2024 in the northern hemisphere. Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky Remind MeMercury is bright and well placed in the dawn sky. Ursid meteor shower 2024 Remind MeThe Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak. Moon at Last Quarter Remind MeThe Moon reaches last quarter phase – rising in the east at around midnight and appearing high in the sky by sunrise. - 24
The Moon at apogee Remind MeThe Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Earth, making it appear fractionally smaller than at other times of the month. Lunar occultation of Spica Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Spica (Alpha Virginis), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including China, Japan, North Korea and South Korea amongst others. - 25
Mercury at greatest elongation west Remind MeMercury is bright and well placed in the dawn sky. - 28
Lunar occultation of Antares Remind MeThe Moon will pass in front of Antares (Alpha Scorpii), creating a lunar occultation visible from French Polynesia. The cluster NGC 2232 is well placed Remind MeThe open star cluster NGC 2232 (mag 4.2) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury Remind MeThe Moon and Mercury share the same right ascension, at a separation of 6°23'. - 29
The Rosette Nebula is well placed Remind MeThe Rosette Nebula (C49; mag 9.0) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. - 30
The Moon at perihelion Remind MeThe Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon. New Moon Remind MeThe Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days.
