This December Is Full Of Astronomical Events Including The 'King Of Meteor Showers'

Dec 04, 2019 by apost team

The skies are set for an active December. With many astronomical events on tap for the month, stargazers will be thrilled with the possibility of catching a host of spectacular shows.

In addition to two meteor showers, the skies will display an annual solar eclipse. Also on tap for the months is the official start of winter on December 22 with the December Solstice.

The majority of this month's astronomical events will be visible to the naked eye, meaning that you do not need to have access to an expensive telescope to check it out for yourself. Here are just a few of the events that novice astronomers have to look forward to this month:

apost.com

Full Cold Moon - December 12: All of the stargazing fun kicks off on December 12 with a full cold moon. This happens when the moon is located on the opposite side of the sun and the earth, making its face fully illuminated to the naked eye.

Geminids Meteor Shower - December 13-14: Often called the "King of Meteor Showers," this display will peak during the evening hours of December 13. Viewers will have the best chance of seeing the meteors if they head away from the bright lights of the city. During peak hours, you can expect to possibly see up to 120 meteors per hour, making it worth your time to try to check it out.

Ursids Meteor Shower - December 21: Do not fret if you miss the December 13th meteor shower, as there will be another chance to catch these wonders on December 21. Stargazers can expect to see around 5-10 meteors streaking across the sky per hour. The meteors will originate from the constellation Ursa Minor, however, they can appear anywhere in the night sky.

Annual Solar Eclipse - December 26: This annual eclipse happens when the moon is located too far away from the earth's orbit to completely cover the sun. A ring of light will appear on December 26th around the dark moon. This eclipse will be visible from Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.

You are not going to want to miss the chance to see Mother Nature at work in the night sky. Be sure to spread this useful information to everyone else in your social network so you can watch the night sky together.