Home | Services | Store | Downloads | Articles | Help
		Astronomy & Space Articles As published in The Evening Sky Map

Articles > December 2005

Back | Next

ASTRONOMY & SPACE CALENDARS 2006 Skywatcher's 2006 Calendar (Back Cover Image) An award-winning calendar with monthly star charts and listing daily celestial events. Suitable for beginners. Buy from Calendars.com Astronomy 2006 Calendar (Back Cover Image) 12-image collection compiled by stargazing authority Terence Dickinson, author of NightWatch, who brings a wealth of practical experience to the calendar's daily diary of predicted celestial events, ranging from meteor showers to eclipses. Buy from Calendars.com More 2006 Calendars   Sky Calendar -- December 2005 1 New Moon at 14:59 UT. Beginning of lunation 1026. New Moon occurs twice this month (see Dec 31). 4 Moon near Venus at 19h UT (42° from Sun, evening sky). 5 Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 5h UT (distance 367,364 km; size 32.6'). 8 First Quarter Moon at 9:36 UT. 12 Moon near Mars at 4h UT (evening sky). Mag. -1.3. 12 Venus at brightest at 12h UT. Mag. -4.7. 12 Mercury at greatest elongation, 24° west from the Sun (morning sky) at 13h UT. Mag. -0.4, very low in the east-southeast. 13 Moon near the Pleiades at 21h UT (evening sky). 14 Geminid Meteor Shower peaks at 4:30 UT. Produces bright, medium-speed meteors at its peak on the night of December 13-14 (up to 80 meteors/hour). The parent body of the Geminids is a mysterious asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon believed to be an extinct comet. Moonlight interferes this year. 15 Full Moon at 16:15 UT. The full Moon of December is called the "Moon Before Yule" in folklore. 18 Moon near Pollux at 1h UT (morning sky). 19 Moon near Saturn at 12h UT (morning sky). Mag. 0.0. 21 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 3h UT (distance 405,014 km; angular size 29.5'). 21 Moon near Regulus at 3h UT (morning sky). 21 December solstice at 18:36 UT. The time when the Sun reaches the point farthest south of the celestial equator marking the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. 23 Last Quarter Moon at 19:36 UT. 25 Moon very near Spica at 14h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from most of North America except southwest and west. 27 Moon near Jupiter at 1h UT (53° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. -1.8. 29 Moon very near Antares at 1h UT (28° from Sun, morning sky). 31 New Moon at 3:12 UT. Beginning of lunation 1027. Second time this month. All times Universal Time (UT). USA Eastern Standard Time = UT - 5 hours. Clear skies till next month! Download the latest issue of The Evening Sky Map. Related Links: Earth & Sky -- Sky Information (Radio Series) In Search of the Venusian Shadow -- Venus at its brightest The Geminids by Gary W. Kronk Earth's Seasons, 1992 - 2020 (US Naval Observatory) Related Books & Products: The Backyard Astronomer's Guide by Terence Dickinson (more info) Celestial Delights: The Best Astronomical Events... by Francis Reddy and Greg Walz-Chojnacki

Copyright - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Contact Us - Tell-a-Friend Copyright © 2000-2007 Kym Thalassoudis. All Rights Reserved. Web site hosted by Site5.com

CHECK OUT THESE HIGHLY RATED BUDGET TELESCOPES AT AMAZON.COM
Celestron Explorascope 80mm "A very simple telescope for children." (more info) Buy from Amazon	Orion SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth "Affordable entry-level telescope for that young astronomy enthusiast." (more info) Buy from Amazon	Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth "Excels in both quality and performance." (more info) Buy from Amazon	Orion StarBlast 4.5-in Altazimuth "Great starter scope for kids and adults" (more info) Buy from Amazon	Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Dobsonian "A lot of telesecope for the money." (more info) Buy from Amazon

BUY PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTS OF YOUR FAVORITE ASTRONOMY IMAGES Hubble Telescope, David Malin, Akira Fuji, David Miller, and more... Click images for larger view & description. Large-format digital prints of astronomy images on high quality photographic paper. A variety of print sizes, framing and mounting options. Great selection of images. Browse the Gallery