Sky Chart For The Month of December, 2011

Night Sky Chart of Dec, 2011

 

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR DECEMBER 2011

The Moon

First Quarter occurs on 2nd at h. 15-22 I.S.T.

Full Moon occurs on 10th at h. 20-06 I.S.T.

Last Quarter occurs on 18th at h. 06-18 I.S.T.

New Moon occurs on 24th at h. 23-36 I.S.T.

 

 

The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 26th.

The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 6th and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 22nd.

The Moon passes about 6º north of Neptune in the evening of 1st, about 6½º north of Uranus on 4th, about 5º north of Jupiter after midnight of 7th, 8½º south of Mars on 17th, 6½º south of Saturn on 20th, about 2½º south of Mercury on 23rd, about 6½º north of Venus on 27th, about 6º north of Neptune on 29th and 6º north of Uranus before midnight of 31st. .

The Earth

The Earth is at Winter Solstice on 22nd.

Eclipse

Partial Eclipse of the Moon : The phenomenon will occur on 10th December, 2011. The eclipse begins at 18-15 I.S.T. and ends at 21-48 I.S.T. The eclipse will be visible in India..

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible in the beginning of the month. Thereafter it reappears in the eastern sky before sunrise on 9th of the month and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight. It rises about 1½ hours before sunrise during the period. The planet is in Inferior Conjunction on the 4th of this month. It approaches Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 5th. The motion of the planet is Direct with respect to Earth on 14th. The planet is in Greatest Western Elongation of about 22º from the Sun on 23rd.

Venus: The planet can be seen in the evening sky. It sets about 2 hours to 2½ hours after sunset throughout the month.

Mars: The planet rises before local midnight throughout the month. It rises about ½ hour to 1 hour before it upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 2nd..

Jupiter: The planet sets about 3½ hours to 3 hours after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 26th.

Saturn: The planet rises about 3 hours to 2½ hours after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month..

Uranus: The planet sets around local midnight time throughout the month. It sets about 1 hour to ½ hour after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about ½ hour to close to local midnight time upto second quarter of the month and around local midnight time to 1 hour before it for the remaining days of the month, being in Quadrature with the Sun on 23rd. The motion of the planet is Direct with respect to the Earth on 10th .

Neptune: The planet sets before local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 1 hour to 2½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 3 hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planet :

Mercury passes 6½º north of Antares (Jeystha) on 6th.

Mercury passes about 7º north of Antares (Jeystha) on 23rd.

Planets

Planets in Zodiacal Constellation

Magnitude

Mercury (Budha)

Remains in Scorpio (Vrischika).

+2.6 to -0.4

Venus (Sukra)

Moves from Sagittarius ( Dhanus ) to Capricorns ( Makara ) on 16th.

-3.9

Mars (Mangala)

Remains in Leo ( Simha ).

+0.7 to +0.1

Jupiter (Brihaspati)

Remains in Aries ( Mesha ).

-2.7

Saturn (Sani)

Remains in Libra ( Tula ).

+0.7

Uranus

Remains in Pisces (Mina).

+6.0

Neptune

Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).

+8.0

 

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.