Abstract
FULL moon occurs on Dec. 16d. 09h. llm. U.T., and new moon on Dec. 30d. 09h. 44m. The following conjunctions with the moon take place : Dec. 2d. 16h., Jupiter 4° N.; Dec. 2d. 17h., Mars 3° N.; Dec. 21d. 09h., Saturn 3° S.; Dec. 28d. 06h., Venus 4° N.; Dec. 31d. 19h., Mars 4° N. In addition to these conjunctions with the moon, Mars is in conjunction with Jupiter on Dec. Id. 08h., Mars 1-1° S. Mercury rises at 7h. 15m. on Dec. 1, or nearly half an hour before sunrise, but is too close to the sun for observation, and is not favourably placed for observation during the month. Venus is a morning star, rising at 4h. 40m., 5h. 23m. and 6h. 09m. at the beginning, middle and end of the month, respectively. The magnitude of the planet is –3·4 during December, and the visible portion of the illuminated disk varies from 03·84 to 03·90. Mars is still too close to the sun for favourable observation, setting less than an hour and a half after the sun throughout the month. Jupiter is also too close to the sun to be well observed, and is in conjunction with the sun on Jan. 1. Saturn, in the constellation of Leo, rises about 23h. on Dec. 1 and 21h. on Dec. 31 ; it is visible throughout the morning hours in the early part of the month and also during the later hours of the night in the last part of the month. The planet is stationary on Dec. 17. No occultations of stars brighter than magnitude 6 take place during December. Winter solstice occurs on Dec. 21d. 23h.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
The Night Sky in December. Nature 162, 844 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1038/162844e0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/162844e0