By- Naiteek Bhatt
December's sky will feature numerous celestial events from meteor shower peaks to the Northern winter solstice. Here are all the astronomical events lined up in December.
The moon will complete three-quarters of its orbit around Earth, measured from the previous new moon, on Tuesday (Dec 5) at 12:49 am EST (05:49 GMT).
Dec 5 - Third Quarter Moon
The moon will reach its new phase on Tuesday ( Dec 12) at 6:32 pm EST (23:32 GMT). While new, the moon is travelling between Earth and the Sun.
Dec 12 - New Moon
One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, Geminids is active from Nov 19 to Dec 24 annually. They will gradually reach a peak on Thursday (Dec 14).
Dec 13 - Geminids Meteor Shower Peak
On Dec 15, the young crescent moon will shine low in the southwestern sky after sunset. It will feature Earthshine, also known as Ashen glow and "the old moon in the new moon's arms".
Dec 15 - Earthshine
Winter in the Northern Hemisphere will officially commence in the Americas on Thursday (Dec 21) at 10:27 pm EST or 03:27 GMT on Friday (Dec 22).
Dec 21 - Northern Winter Solstice
The annual Ursid meteor shower is active from Dec 13 to 24. The Short-duration shower will peak with 5 to 10 meteors per hour on Friday (Dec 22) in the Americas.
Dec 23 - Ursids Meteor Shower Peak
The December full moon will occur at 7:33 pm EST on Tuesday ( Dec 26). It is traditionally also Known as the oak Moon , cold Moon, and Long Nights Moon.
Dec 26-27 - Full oak Moon