Must-See Astronomical Events In December 2020
The inhabitants of the Earth in December expect four significant astronomical events at once. A total Eclipse of the Sun, two meteor showers and the rarest conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn are expected – this is the astronomical forecast for December 2020. It is particularly interesting that all these events will take place on or near December 14 and 21. Therefore, they can be called the most astronomical dates of 2020.
Geminids Meteor Shower
December 13-14
The Geminids, an annual winter meteor shower, it is superior to the number of “shooting stars” all other meteor showers, including the Perseids in August.
Individual meteors can be observed from December 4. Their relatively low speed makes them particularly bright.
Geminids, a meteor shower corresponding to the constellation Gemini. In 2020, the maximum number of Geminids falls on December 13-14. Around this time, every year, in a fairly dark and transparent sky, you can count up to 150 meteors per hour.
You can watch shooting stars with the naked eye. You needn’t look at the radiant itself, where meteors seem to fly out, but from this point a little to the side.
Total Solar Eclipse
December 14
A total solar eclipse will occur on December 14 and complete the eclipse corridor that has been running since the beginning of the month. This is an eclipse of 142 Saros (the time interval after which the eclipses of the Moon and the Sun are approximately repeated in the same order), so it duplicates a similar one in 2002, and the next similar one will occur in 2038.
The total phase of the Eclipse will last 130 seconds and will pass over Chile and Argentina, where it can be seen in all its glory.
Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
December 21
On December 21, one of the most spectacular astronomical events of 2020 will take place-the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. The two farthest and therefore most leisurely of the bright planets will approach each other at a distance of only 6 arc minutes! To the naked eye, Jupiter and Saturn will almost merge into a very bright “star” that will break up into planets when viewed with binoculars or a telescope. This phenomenon is repeats every 20 years.
Full Moon
December 30
Full Moon is the difference between the Ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and the Moon equal to 180°. This means that the plane drawn through the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon is perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic.
The Moon on December 30, 2020 is in the full moon stage, and this is the 15th lunar day. On this day, the Moon rises at 15:56 and sets at 09:32. The Moon is located at a distance of 393,160 kilometers from the Earth.
