December 2024 – What’s Up!

Week of 30th December

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 18:11 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:16 GMT by the end of the week.
  • The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Friday. It has a brief but potent peak, producing over 100 meteors per hour over a six hour period. The peak is expected in the afternoon, so pre-dawn or early evening viewing is likely to be best. Alternatively, follow the action on the radio meteor detector live stream!
  • On Saturday there is a lunar occultation of Saturn. It starts at 17:20 GMT, with Saturn reappearing at 18:29 GMT. Look to the southwest to see this event.
  • The three bright planets in our sky this week are: in the west, Venus (-4.4), which sets at around 20:20 GMT, in the southeast, Jupiter (-2.7), which transits at 22:00 GMT, and in the northeast, Mars (-1.2), which rises at around 17:15 GMT.
  • The Moon is New on Monday.
  • The Sun currently has 11 active regions and the sunspot number is 213.
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 23rd December

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 18:06 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:10 GMT by the end of the week.
  • Six planets adorn our night sky starting with Venus (-4.3) in the southwest setting at 20:02 GMT; next as we move east is Saturn (+1.1), then Neptune (+7.9); move over to the eastern hemisphere to find Uranus (+5.6), followed by bright Jupiter (-2.8) and finally Mars (-1.1), which rises at around 18:00 this week.
  • Three deep sky delights await your telescope this week: start with old favourite M42, the Orion Nebula (+4.0) in Orion, next to double star Alnitak (+1.7), the lefthand star of Orion’s belt which is a tricky split at just 2.1 arcseconds separation; finish with NGC 2264, the seasonally appropriate Christmas Tree Cluster (+4.1) in Monoceros – can you make out the shape of the tree in this open cluster?!
  • The Moon is Waning Crescent all week.
  • The Sun currently has 9 active regions and the sunspot number is 152.
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 16th December

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 18:03 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:05 GMT by the end of the week.
  • The December Solstice takes place at 09:20 GMT on Saturday, when the Sun will reach its lowest declination of -23.5°. This is the shortest day for us here in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of Astronomical Winter. Happy Solstice!
  • On Wednesday there is a daytime occultation of Mars by the Moon. The event starts at 09:26 GMT, with Mars reappearing at 10:18 GMT. Look to the northwest horizon to find the Moon, which sets at 11:01 GMT.
  • Admire planets and clusters this week starting with Uranus (+5.6) about 7° to the south west of M45, the Pleiades (+1.5), move to bright Jupiter (-2.8) in the horns of Taurus, then slew about 10° east to find M1, the Crab Nebula (+8.4). Finish with open clusters M35 (+5.1) and NGC 2158 (+8.6) a little further east in Gemini.
  • The Moon is Last Quarter on Sunday.
  • The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 86.
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 9th December

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 18:01 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:02 GMT by the end of the week.
  • The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is one of the finest showers of the year and can produce over 100 meteors per hour. Its progenitor is asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The bright Moon will obscure the fainter meteors in optical, but for the full display, follow the radio meteor detector live stream!
  • Jupiter (-2.8) continues to dominate the evening sky, transiting at around 23:40 GMT through this week. As Saturn (+1.0) sinks ever lower to the west, so Mars (-0.7) starts to enter the scene, rising at around 19:15 GMT.
  • The Moon is Full on Sunday – the Cold Moon.
  • The Sun currently has 4 active regions and the sunspot number is 91.
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 2nd December

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 18:03 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:02 GMT by the end of the week.
  • Jupiter (-2.8) reaches opposition on Saturday. It will be at its closest point to Earth in its orbit, appearing at its largest and brightest, making this the perfect time to observe the gas giant. Look out for a transit of Io on Tuesday, starting at 20:38 GMT.
  • Three stunning open clusters await your binoculars this week: start in Cassiopeia with Caroline’s Rose, NGC 7789 (+6.7), then across the constellation to the Owl Cluster, NGC 457 (+6.4), and finally to the marvellous Double Cluster (NGC 869 & NGC 884) in Perseus.
  • The Moon is First Quarter on Sunday.
  • The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 103.
  • There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

 

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