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3
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Jupiter at opposition at 2h UT. Best time to observe the largest planet in the solar system. Mag. -2.8.
• Opposition (Planets) (Wikipedia)
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3
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Moon near Beehive cluster (M44) (morning sky) at 17h UT.
• Beehive Cluster (Wikipedia)
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4
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Mercury at greatest elongation, 21° west of Sun (morning sky) at 23h UT. Mag -0.4.
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5
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Moon near Regulus (morning sky) at 12h UT.
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6
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Last Quarter Moon at 15:32 UT.
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9
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Mercury 6.3° E of Venus (20° & 26° from Sun, morning sky) at 9h UT. Mags. -0.5 & -4.0.
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9
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Moon very near Spica (54° from Sun, morning sky) at 12h UT. Occultation visible in southern Pacific, Antarctica, and southern South America.
• Occultation of Spica (US Naval Observatory)
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10
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Moon near Saturn (41° from Sun, morning sky) at 10h UT. Mag. +0.7.
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11
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Moon near Venus (25° from Sun, morning sky) at 14h UT. Mag. -4.0.
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12
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Moon very near Mercury (19° from Sun, morning sky) at 0h UT. Occultation visible in Antarctica. Mag. -0.5.
• Occultation of Mercury (US Naval Observatory)
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12
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Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 23h UT (357,075 km; 33.5'). Occurs about 9 hours before New Moon so expect high tides.
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13
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New Moon at 8:41 UT. Start of lunation 1113.
• Lunation Number (Wikipedia)
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13
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Geminid Meteor Shower peaks at 23h UT. Produces bright, medium-speed meteors at its peak (up to 80 meteors/hour). Very favorable viewing conditions this year for this major shower.
• Observing the Geminids (Gary Kronk)
• The Geminids (IMO)
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15
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Moon near Mars (27° from Sun, evening sky) at 7h UT.
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20
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First Quarter Moon at 5:19 UT.
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21
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December solstice at 11:12 UT. The time when the Sun reaches the point farthest south of the celestial equator marking the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
• December Solstice (Wikipedia)
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25
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Moon near the Pleiades (evening sky) at 5h UT.
• Pleiades (star cluster) (Wikipedia)
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25
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Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 21h UT (distance 406,098 km; angular size 29.4').
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26
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Moon very near Jupiter (evening sky) at 0h UT. Occultation visible in southern Africa and central South America. Mag. -2.8.
• Occultation of Jupiter (US Naval Observatory)
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26
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Moon near Aldebaran (evening sky) at 3h UT.
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28
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Full Moon at 10:22 UT.
• Full Moon Names (Wikipedia)
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30
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Moon near Beehive cluster (M44) (morning sky) at 23h UT.
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All times Universal Time (UT). USA Eastern Standard Time = UT - 5 hours.
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