Wait, what? Yes. In December, a day – a whole cycle of day and night – is about half a minute longer than the average 24 hours. That’s true for the entire globe. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/longest-days-of-year-accompany-the-december-solstice…
Tag: solstice
Sun in zodiac constellations, 2020
The sun enters the constellation Sagittarius on December 18, 2019, and then enters the constellation Capricornus on January 20, 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/sun-in-zodiac-constellations-2020…
Start watching for Ursid meteors
The Ursid meteor shower peaks around the December solstice each year. In 2019, the moon is in a waning phase and shouldn’t intrude on the shower’s peak, around the mornings of December 21 and 22. But start watching now! You might catch some. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/ursid-meteor-shower-active-around-wintter-sosltic…
Moon and Regulus on December 16
On December 16, 2019, you might catch the moon and star Regulus – Heart of the Lion in the constellation Leo – ascending in the east before your bedtime. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-couples-up-with-regulus…
All you need to know: December solstice
December solstice 2019 arrives on December 22 at 4:19 UTC. High summer for the Southern Hemisphere. For the Northern Hemisphere, the return of more sunlight! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice…
See a celestial Chariot in December
The constellation Auriga the Charioteer also has several easy-to-find and very famous star clusters that you can spot with binoculars. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/celestial-chariot-high-overhead-around-midnight…
Middle of eclipse season December 30
The annual solar eclipse on December 26, 2019, happens some 4 days before the middle of the eclipse season, which falls on December 30, 2019. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/middle-of-eclipse-season-december-30…
Earliest sunsets for 40 degrees N. around now
Earliest sunsets for 30 degrees N. were centered on late November and early December. Earliest sunsets at mid-northern latitudes are happening now. S. Hemisphere? Watch for your earliest sunrises. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/earliest-sunset-today-but-not-shortest-day…
Aldebaran is the Bull’s fiery eye
Aldebaran – brightest star in Taurus the Bull – is easy to spot at one tip of a V-shaped pattern of stars. If this star replaced our sun, its surface would extend almost to the orbit of Mercury. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/aldebaran-is-taurus-bloodshot-eye…
When is my earliest sunset?
For the southernmost U.S and similar latitudes, the earliest sunsets of the year are happening now. Your earliest sunset depends on your latitude, but always comes before the winter solstice. Source: https://earthsky.org/earth/winter-solstice-and-late-sunrise…