December is approaching and with it grand finale One of the astronomical shows of the year! The last days of 2024 will bring spectacular events to the night sky that will delight observers around the world!
December nights They will provide us with the phenomena of celestial light and brilliance, but also a connection with the endless cycles of nature. Get your observation tools ready and mark the days on your calendar for this perfect way to end the year!
The astronomical events of the past month will result from two meteor showers, one of which is the largest and most anticipated of the year, and the solstice, which symbolizes the arrival of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Featured location on your calendar, The night of December 13 and the morning of December 14 is when the activity of the Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak.the most famous and anticipated among amateur astronomers. Considered the “king” of meteor showers, the Geminids are a massive event that produces up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak.
‘Shooting stars’ are produced by debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon and occur between 7 and 17 December each year. This year the Moon will be nearly at its peak, which will block out all but the brightest meteors. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but they can appear anywhere in the sky.
The second meteor shower is a small event known as the Ursids. The shower occurs between December 17 and 25 each year and produces approximately 5 to 10 meteors per hour; This year it peaks on the night of the 21st and in the early morning hours of the 22nd.
Your best viewing experience will be just after midnight in a dark location away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but they can also appear anywhere in the sky..
Finally, On December 21, at 6:20 a.m. Brazilian time, summer will begin in Brazil and the southern hemisphere of the planet. On this day, the Earth’s South Pole will tilt towards the Sun, which has reached its southernmost position in the sky, and fall directly on the Tropic of Capricorn. This will be the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere and the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, where winter begins.
Using applications such as Carta Celeste, Stellarium and SkyMap are great allies for observing and identifying objects in the sky!
Calendar of major astronomical events for December 2024
01/12: New moon
04/12: Moon and Venus conjunction
07/12: Jupiter in opposition (best view)
08/12: First Quarter Moon and Saturn occulted by the Moon
13 and 14/12: Maximum activity of the Geminid meteor shower
12/14: Conjunction between Moon and Jupiter
12/15: full moon
12/18: Mars occultation on the Moon
12/21: Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere
12/21 and 22: Maximum activity of the Ursid meteor shower
12/25: Mercury at maximum western elongation (best view)
12/30: New moon
Clear skies and good observations!
Always be aware of all the astronomical events of the month on TecMundo and get the opportunity to share the December astronomical calendar with your friends on social media!
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
