The Observer’s Calendar for December 2023!

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. 

• Patreon Calendar Draw reminder!

 

- Dec 4 - Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky 21°

- Dec 5 - Last quarter Moon

- Dec 6 - Curtis X visible - Day of Darkness

- Dec 9 - Venus 4° North of Moon

- Dec 10 - Try to spot Uranus at M=5.7 this week in Aries

- Dec 12 - New Moon

- Dec 13/14 - Geminid Meteor Shower peaks - ZHR = 120!

- Dec 14 Mercury 4° north of the Moon — not here…at least in my software.

- Dec 17 - Saturn 2° N of Moon in Aquarius

- Dec 19 Double Shadow Transit on Jupiter?

- Dec 20 - Lunar Straight wall & First Quarter Moon

- Dec 21 - Winter Solstice and Jupiter 3° South of the Moon

- Dec 22 Ursid Meteor Shower Peaks - ZHR = 10

Asteroid Metis 9 at 8.4 magnitude opposition. Discovered by Andrew Graham on 25 April 1848, at Markree Observatory in Ireland. Metis (minor planet designation: 9 Metis) is one of the larger main-belt asteroids. It is composed of silicates and metallic nickel-iron, and may be the core remnant of a large asteroid that was destroyed by an ancient collision. Metis is estimated to contain just under half a percent of the total mass of the asteroid belt.

- Dec 26 Full Moon

- Dec 28 Asteroid 5 Astraea at Opposition! 5 Astraea is an asteroid in the asteroid belt. Its surface is highly reflective and its composition is probably a mixture of nickel-iron with silicates of magnesium and iron. It is an S-type asteroid in the Tholen classification system. Astraea was the fifth asteroid discovered, on 8 December 1845, by Karl Ludwig Hencke and named for Astraea, a Greek goddess of justice named after the stars. It was his first of two asteroid discoveries. The second was 6 Hebe. A German amateur astronomer and post office headmaster, Hencke was looking for 4 Vesta when he stumbled on Astraea. The King of Prussia awarded him an annual pension of 1,200 marks for the discovery.

- Dec 30 Double Shadow Transit on Jupiter YES!

 

Concluding Listener Message: Just a reminder for our Patreon Calendar Draw, all you need to do is be a Patreon Supporter to be placed in our draw. Thanks to everyone for listening and you can always send us your show ideas, observations and questions to: 

[email protected]

 

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