December 2009

The month is December and the moon is full…twice.  This month we will witness an unusual phenomenon generally referred to as the Blue Moon; the second moon in one month.  We will see the moon full for the second time this month on the 30th.  The first meaning of a blue moon was an obvious absurdity, and it has since expanded to mean the 13th moon in a year.  Despite the phrase “once in a blue moon” they aren’t all that rare, happening about once every three years; the last one was in (you guessed it) 2007 on the day of April 30th.   The Third quarter moon will occur on the 8th, with the New moon appearing (or lack there of) on the 16th followed by the first quarter on the 24th before going full on the 30th.

There are also three planets available for your viewing pleasure this month.  Jupiter, the giant gas planet that looks breathtaking through a telescope, will be fairly high in the sky at the beginning of the month, though it should be viewed as soon as it gets dark for the best results as it sinks lower and sets faster with every passing night. Another planet to look out for early in the evening is Mercury.  By the 12th is should be fairly easy to find hanging around in the southwest about half an hour after sunset.  It may be quite frustrating to find this speedy planet at the beginning and end of the month as it starts and ends quite close to the sun.

Mars will be rising earlier and earlier this month.  Traveling along with the stars in Leo the Lion, Mars will get much brighter as the month goes on, coming in third to only Jupiter and Sirius (and the moon of course).  Saturn will be rising around 1:30 am at the beginning of the month, but will be waking up two hours earlier by the end.  It will be in Virgo, near the bright star Spica, and it’s rings will be opening up, offering a spectacular view that is sure to make your eyes water(Though that may also be due to that fact that’s it’s 1:30 in the morning in December).

Though, If you really want to see a show, you should try out the Annual Geminid meteor Shower, playing mostly on the 13th-14th.  And since the peak is just a few days past the new moon, viewing conditions will be favorable.  With a clear sky, you may see more than 100 meteors per hour; that’s more than one a min.!  The best direction to face will be southeast if at all possible, but the meteors will be visible through the entire sky.

There’s another meteor shower peaking before dawn on the 22nd of this month; the Ursid.   It will radiate from the north star, Polaris, which will be above the horizon and visible all night.  Usually there are about 10 meteors per hour, though there are sometimes burst of up to 30.

The Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year will occur on December 21st at 12:47pm EST.  From then on out the days will be getting longer and before you know it Spring will come, bringing with it the smell of summer and the squish of mud.

December History notes:
Dec. 14, 1546 – Tycho Brahe was born
Dec. 25, 1642 – Isaac Newton was born
Dec. 27, 1571 – Johannes Keplar was born

TOP NET LINKS