ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR DECEMBER 2011

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 22^nd.**

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

The Earth

The Earth is at Winter Solstice on 22nd.

Eclipse

Partial Eclipse of the Moon : The phenomenon will occur on 10^th 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 9^th 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 4^th of this month. It approaches Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 5^th. The motion of the planet is Direct with respect to Earth on 14^th. The planet is in Greatest Western Elongation of about 22º from the Sun on 23^rd.

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 2^nd..

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 26^th.

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 23^rd. The motion of the planet is Direct with respect to the Earth on 10^th .

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 6^th.

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

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 16^th.**	-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.