This last happened in 2000, so it’s worth staying up for on this shortest day of the year. And, while you’re awake, look out for meteors! The Ursids shower will be in full effect.
This rare conjunction of these two planets is known as a „great conjunction”. (Didn’t we hear about those in the film „The Dark Crystal”?)
The two bright planets will appear only 7 arc minutes of each other in the night sky. They will be so close that they will appear to make a bright double planet. Look to the west just after sunset for this impressive and rare planetary pair.
The first quarter moon should set just after midnight leaving dark skies for what could be a good show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights.
Also, check out the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, which will appear as if they are a single body!
The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
This marks the beginning of winter (in the northern hemisphere) and the beginning of summer (in the southern hemisphere.) The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, respectively, in the sense that the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset on this day is a minimum for the year. Of course, daylight saving time means that the first Sunday in April has 23 hours and the last Sunday in October has 25 hours, but these human meddlings with the calendar and do not correspond to the actual number of daylight hours.
If you live in the southern hemisphere, this is your Summer Solstice, and good cause for celebrating the longest day of the year.
The waning gibbous moon will block out most of the faintest meteors this year. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!
This note is from Canton, the fellow who maintains the astronomical events calendar on your phone/computer/brain implant. I’ve just now added all the meteor showers and grand celestial events for 2021.
Based on suggestions from subscribers, I’ve made some changes this year. First of all, NO MORE ANNOYING ALARMS! Sorry about that.
Also, the (alleged) traditional Native American names and stories for each full moon appear in this year’s calendar, as well as additional names for the full moons as they are experienced in the southern hemisphere (courtesy of https://springwolf.net/2016/04/30/the-full-moon-in-the-southern-heisphere/)
In February look out for the INVASION OF MARS as well as a spectacular conjunction of Jupiter and Venus. OW my eyeballs!
If you find any errors or omissions, please let me know at canton@gmail.com.
More information about this calendar and the guy who makes it for you is here: