Part of the Moon will appear darker as the full Moon passes through the faint outer edge (penumbra) of the Earth’s shadow.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_eclipse
The nearly new moon will ensure dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.
The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The morning of the 15th could also be nearly as active this year. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar-2017.html
This total eclipse has its maximum totality solidly hitting land in Chile and Argentina. Regions viewing at least a partial are: southern Africa, much of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica. See the URL below for a map and specific times.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2020-december-14
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.