Babe Among the Stars: Christmas Is Coming
Created | Updated Nov 27, 2011
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth - Ptolemy
Christmas is coming!
I am a member of my local Astronomy Club. Each month we have a guest speaker and I'm very much looking forward to 7 December when the subject will be about the Christmas Star. I wonder if he will offer any alternatives to Gnomon's article?
December Diary Dates
Comet Garradd is still passing through the constellation Hercules. I am pleased to report that Researcher Phil and myself have both viewed it. There is a total lunar eclipse this month, and the whole event will be visible in Asian and Australian regions. Europe and Africa will miss the early stages but well positioned for the fully-eclipsed Moon. North Americans will catch the last part of the eclipse. South America and the Antarctic will miss the event completely. This will be the last total lunar eclipse until April 2014.
- 03: Moon in the asterism the Circlet of Pisces
- 10: Full Moon: the Cold Moon, also known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon before Yule
- 10: Total lunar eclipse
- 13/14: Geminids meteor shower peaks
- 22: Winter solstice (Northern Hemisphere)
- 23: Ursids meteor shower peaks
- 24: New Moon
- 25: Christmas Day: here's a nice Christmassy image in space
- 31: New Year's Eve - here's to 2012!
Chat about your celestial observances at the H2G2 Astronomy Society. Comment on anything in this edition of Babe Among the Stars by starting a new conversation below.
