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Sun, Moon & Stars
Movement of the heavenly bodies: December 2001
December Calendar
| Moon Phase |
Day |
Phenomenon |
Hour
(UT) |
Hour
(EST) |
 |
1 |
Saturn is 0 degrees 5 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. |
0200 | 9 pm
(Nov. 30) |
 |
3 |
Jupiter is 1 degree 6 minutes south of the Moon. |
1100 | 6 am |
|
3 |
Saturn is at opposition, that is, Saturn and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth. |
1400 | 9 am |
 |
4 |
Mercury is in superior conjunction, that is, Mercury and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. |
2200 | 5 pm |
 |
6 |
The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. |
2300 | 6 pm |
 |
7 |
Pluto is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Pluto and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. |
0400 | 11 pm
(Dec. 6) |
 |
7 |
LAST QUARTER |
2000 | 3 pm |
 |
14 |
NEW MOON
Eclipse |
2100 | 4 pm |
 |
17 |
Saturn is 4 degrees north of Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. |
1700 | 12 pm
(noon) |
 |
18 |
Neptune is 4 degrees north of the Moon. |
0700 | 2 am |
 |
19 |
Uranus is 4 degrees north of the Moon. |
1200 | 7 am |
 |
20 |
Mars is 4 degrees north of the Moon. |
2000 | 3 pm |
 |
21 |
The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. |
1300 | 8 am |
|
21 |
Solstice |
1900 | 2 pm |
 |
22 |
FIRST QUARTER |
2100 | 4 pm |
 |
25 |
The asteroid Juno appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent direct motion changes to backward, or retrograde, motion. |
2100 | 4 pm |
 |
28 |
Saturn is 0 degrees 2 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. |
0800 | 3 am |
 |
30 |
FULL MOON
Penumbral Eclipse | 1100 | 6 am |
|
30 |
Jupiter is 1 degree 2 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. |
1400 | 9 am |
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Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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