Dec 28th: Juno in conjunction with Sun.
THE NIGHT SKY DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER 1999.
and 
The Sun and Moon
All times are in Greenwich Mean Time (G.M.T.) For Observer in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, U.K.
Latitude 53 degs 24 mins North.
Longitude +3.0 degs West.
2nd 7th 12th 17th 22nd 27th 31st
SUNRISE 08:06 08:12 08:18 08:23 08:26 08:27 08:28
SUNSET 15:57 15:54 15:53 15:53 15:55 15:59 16:03
On the 22nd the Sun reaches its winter solstice when the Sun halts its apparent motion in deckination. At midday it is at its lowest altitude for the year and conseqently it is the shortest day of the year. December is also the month when the Moon's varying ellipticity brings it closest to the Earth in 1999 (on the 22nd at 356,653km) and puts it at its furthest away from us (on the 8th at 406,624km).
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PHASES OF THE MOON DURING DECEMBER 1999 |
NEW MOON
on 7th
at 22hr:33m |
FIRST QUARTER
on 16th
at 00hr:51m |
FULL MOON
on 22nd
at 17hr:32m |
LAST QUARTER
on 29th
at 14hr:05m |
THE PLANETS THIS MONTH.
MERCURY.
Mercury puts on a fine display in the morning sky, this table shows were to look using Venus and the Moon as signposts.
VENUS.
Venus remains a morning object into 2000 although its altitude at the time of civil twilight is now noticeably lessening. On the 3rd Venus is 2° South of the Moon at 22hr:00m, and shows a gibbous phase at 71% and an apparent diameter of 16".
MARS.
Before Mars passes too close to the solar glare to be easily found, a rare event occurs. On the 12th the dark limb of the crescent Moon passes directly in font of the red planet - a planetary occultation. The occultation starts at 19hr:12m very low down in the South West - at the time of disappearance the Moon is only 6° above the horizon so you will need an unobstructed view such as a sea horizon or from a hilltop if you are not to be disappointed. With the Moon only 19% sunlit, the dark hemisphere may be gently lit by the ghostly light known as Earthshine. This is sunlight reflected from the Earth again. If this is indeed visible then go out an hour or so before the event starts and watch the Moon edge slowly towards Mars. A telescope using a high magnification will offer the best view but binocular owners should also have a nice wide-field view.
MARSWATCH - latest observations of the red planet.
Mars Global Surveyor Latest news from orbit.
JUPITER.
Jupiter is 4.5° North of the Moon on the 18th at 08hr:00m and shows a disk 47" across.
Launched in October 1989, the Galileo Jupiter Probe entered orbit around the great planet on December 7th 1995. The Project Galileo Homepage will give you up-to-date information and the very latest images returned.
SATURN.
Saturn is 3.5° North of the Moon on the 19th at 11hr:00m and shows a disk 19" across.
URANUS and 
NEPTUNE.
Both are poorly placed for observations during this period.
PLUTO.
Poorly placed for observations during this period.
METEORS
12th Geminids 70 Per Hour Favouable
24th Ursids 12 Per Hour Unfavourable
Click Here.
Click Here.
COMETS.
Society News and Night Sky notes - DECEMBER 1999
OCCULATIONS
EMail: ggastro@liverpool.ac.uk.
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