Moon Phases, Solstice, and More for December 2022

Moon Phases Winter Solstice Meteor Showers and More for December 2022 at Wild Hemlock WildHemlock.Com
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One of the biggest meteor showers of the year happens this month! Followed by the Winter Solstice, known as Yule in folklore, December ends with two beautiful astrophotography opportunities.

The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks on December 14th, and is one of the best displays of shooting stars all year. Over 120 meteors will streak across the sky per hour. The Moon will almost be to Third Quarter, which may impact how many will be visible. At 2 AM, the meteor shower is at its peak; but, the meteors will be short and close to its radiant point, Gemini in this case. Before dawn, however, the meteors will enter the atmosphere at a winder angle and produce much longer, vivid trails. Learn more about the Geminid meteor shower at In The Sky.org.

The Celestial Sphere. Learn more about it and other astronomy facts at WildHemlock.Com!
The Celestial Sphere from the US Gov via Wikipedia

On December 21st, the Sun dips down to the lowest point below the Celestial Equator, known as the Tropic of Capricorn, marking the shortest day and Longest Night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Thus begins Winter, and as the Sun slowly marches northward along its Ecliptic Path, the days grow longer and steal more time from the night. Also known as Midwinter and Yule, the Winter Solstice has been celebrated by many cultures for thousands of years. Yule was celebrated as a returning or rebirth of the Sun. Many Celtic and Norse traditions survive today as Christmas celebrations, such as the yule log and yule boar (the Christmas Ham). The giving of presents is believed to come from the Ancient Greece holiday Saturnalia. Many, if not all, ancient peoples celebrated or marked the winter solstice as a sign that spring will return soon.

*Waves hand in the general direction of Punxsutawney*

Click Here to Learn more about Meteor Showers and More at the Glossary of Astronomical Phenomena

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Astronomical Phenomena

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

Also known as Yule

December 21, 2022

Moon Phases

Full  Moon. Learn more about the Moon at Wild Hemlock, WildHemlock.ComLast Quarter Moon. Learn more about the Moon at Wild Hemlock, WildHemlock.ComNew Moon. Learn more about the Moon at Wild Hemlock, WildHemlock.ComFirst Quarter Moon. Learn more about the Moon at Wild Hemlock, WildHemlock.Com
Full Moon

December 7
Third Quarter Moon

December 16
New Moon

December 23
First Quarter Moon

December 29

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
Ascending Node:5th
Apogee:11th
Descending Node:19th
Perigee:24th
Moon Name:Cold Moon

Meteor Showers

Learn more about Meteor Showers at WildHemlock.Com

Geminid Meteor Shower

Radiant Point Constellation:Gemini
Peak Date:December 14th
Best Time, EST:2 AM
Zenith Hourly Rate:120 meteors per hour!
Learn More:In-The-Sky.Org

Minor Meteor Showers

NamePeak DateRadiant
Constellation
Meteors
Per Hour
Best Viewing
Time, EST
PheonicidsDec 2ndPhoenix<5Not Visible in EST
φ-CassiopeidsDec 6Andromeda<5After 9 PM
Puppid-VelidsDec 7Vela103 AM
MonocerotidsDec 8Monoceros21 AM
σ-HydridsDec 12Hydra33 AM
Comae BerenicidsDec 14Leo33 AM
Leonis MinoridDec 20Leo Minor51 AM
UrsidsDec 22Ursa Minor
Little Dipper
10Before Dawn

Planetary Alignments & Lunar Conjunctions

Planetary Alignments and Lunar Conjunctions - Learn more at Wild Hemlock, WildHemlock.Com
Moon ☌ JupiterDec 1
Neptune Exits RetrogradeDec 3
Moon Occultation of UranusDec 5
Moon Occultation of MarsDec 7
Sun ☍ MarsDec 8
Moon ☌ MercuryDec 24
Moon ☌ VenusDec 24
Moon ☌ SaturnDec 25
Mercury ☌ VenusDec 29

December 2022



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