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There is so much astronomy going on in December 2021 that I had to rearrange my graphics to fit everything! December 4th is a Total Solar Eclipse, followed by nine Meteor Showers! Then winter starts properly in the Northern Hemisphere on the Winter Solstice December 21st. Don’t forget to mark the Moon Phases in your calendar!

According to the Glossary, a Solar Eclipse is the point in time in which the Moon is passing in between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the Sun and creating a shadow upon the face of the Earth.

To be a Total Solar Eclipse, the following three events must happen:

The Sun is blocked by the Moon,

The Moon is close enough to its perigee and therefore appears large enough to completely block out the Sun, and

The observer is currently in the Umbra, or direct shadow, of the Moon.

A total and partial solar eclipse can occur simultaneously to two different observers in two different locations on the Earth, if one is in the Umbra and the other in the Penumbra.

Unfortunately for most of us, the Total Solar Eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica. Oh, to be a freezing cold scientist! The southern-most points of Africa, Australia, and South America may see a Partial Solar Eclipse.

Here is an animation created by NASA which will demonstrate the path of the eclipse:

Image Courtesy of NASA. Learn more at WildHemlock.Com — Image available from NASA

Happy Holidays from Wild Hemlock!

Table of Contents

Check out the Glossary of Astronomical Events if you need any explanations!

Special Events

Summer Solstice. Learn more about the Summer Solstice at WildHemlock.com

Solar Eclipse. Learn More about Solar Eclipses at WildHemlock.Com

Moon Phases

All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST) or Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDT).

Moon Facts

Moon. Learn more about lunar phenomena and moon phases at WildHemlock.Com

Descending Node:	3rd, 30th
Perigee:	4th
Ascending Node:	16th
Apogee:	17th
Moon Name:	Cold Moon, or Long Night Moon

Meteor Showers

Phoenicid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Phoenix
Peak Date:	December 2nd
Best Time, EST:	Anytime after dark
Direction to Look:	Nadir, only visible to the Southern Hemisphere
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

φ-Cassiopeid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Andromeda
Peak Date:	December 6th
Best Time, EST:	9 PM EST
Direction to Look:	North Northwest
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Puppid-Velid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Vela
Peak Date:	December 7th
Best Time, EST:	1 AM EST
Direction to Look:	South Southwest
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Monocerotid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Monoceros
Peak Date:	December 9th
Best Time, EST:	After 7 PM EST
Direction to Look:	Southwest, Above Orion’s Belt
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

σ-Hydrid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Hydra
Peak Date:	December 12th
Best Time, EST:	3 AM EST or any time after 11 PM EST
Direction to Look:	South
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Geminid Meteor Shower

Up to 120 meteors per hour! Hopefully the light of the waxing gibbous moon does not obscure your view.

Radiant Point Constellation:	Gemini
Peak Date:	December 14th
Best Time, EST:	2 AM EST or any time after dark
Direction to Look:	West Northwest
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Comae Berenicid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Leo
Peak Date:	December 16th
Best Time, EST:	Shortly Before Dawn
Direction to Look:	East
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Leo Minor
Peak Date:	December 19th
Best Time, EST:	5 AM EST
Direction to Look:	East Northeast
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Ursid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:	Ursa Minor (or “Little Dipper”)
Peak Date:	December 22nd
Best Time, EST:	Anytime after dark, visible all night in the Northern Hemisphere
Direction to Look:	Zenith
Learn More:	In-The-Sky.Org

Planetary Alignments