Thursday 12/December/2024 – 03:14 AM
December every year is the perfect opportunity for lovers Astronomy To monitor a group of distinctive celestial phenomena that adorn the sky during the cold winter nights. During this month, events vary from bright meteor showers and the full moon to the winter solstice, which astronomically announces the beginning of the winter season.
According to what was published by the EarthSky website, these phenomena form an amazing artistic painting that can be viewed with the naked eye or using simple telescopes, which makes observing the sky an unforgettable experience.
Geminid Meteor Shower phenomenon
This event is considered one of the best meteor showers of the year, as it reaches its peak on the night of December 13-14, and up to 120 meteors per hour can be seen in ideal conditions, when the sky is clear and dark. The source of these meteors is the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which is an exception. Among meteor showers that usually come from comets.
Full Moon or December Cold Moon
The full moon occurs on December 15, 2024 at 09:02 GMT, and is called the cold moon because it signals the start of the cold of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
According to ancient American tradition, the moon will be visible and illuminated in the constellation Taurus.
Winter Solstice
On December 21, 2024 at 09:20 GMT, the Northern Hemisphere will experience the shortest day and longest night of the year.
This event marks the beginning of the astronomical winter, when the sun is at its lowest point in the southern sky.
The planet Mercury at its greatest elongation
On December 25, the planet Mercury reaches its maximum angle from the Sun at 22.3 degrees, and will be easily seen after sunset in the constellation Ophiuchus.
These phenomena provide a wonderful opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts to observe the sky and enjoy its beauty during the month of December.
