December Night Sky

One of the fun things about winter is the night sky.  Cold, clear, winter skies are characterized by a lack of humidity and if you live in a rural community there is very little urban light pollution creating some spectacular opportunities for star-gazing.    

December brings a couple of meteor showers to the night skies.  The Geminid meteor shower is the more prolific of the two bringing as many as 120 shooting stars per hour.  The show began on November 19 and lasts thru December 24.  It's a rather reliable act if you have a dark location.  Peak performance occurs December 14 and 15.  The meteors will appear almost anywhere but originate from the constellation Gemini in the eastern night sky.

This December a waning gibbous moon will cast some light competition.  Nevertheless, the Geminid meteors tend to be bold, bright and quick.  The brightest will overcome any light cast by the moon.

Shooting stars are most often associated with the Earth’s passage thru the debris field of a comet.  The Geminids are a bit of a mystery as they are related with an extinct or dormant comet which also happens to be a near-earth asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.  

December also brings the Ursid meteor shower with 5  to 10 shooting stars per hour as the Earth passes thru the debris field of Comet 8P/Tuttle.  

EarthSky.org
 

Although not as spectacular as the Geminids peak action coincides with the solstice the evening of December 21 and 22.   Competition from any light cast by the Cold Moon can be a challenge making only the brightest meteorites visible. 

Mark your calendar and if you catch a cold, clear, winter sky bundle-up and take some time to sit outside and observe the heavens. 

There’s no mosquitoes this time of year!