Sky Chart For The Month of December, 2024
ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR DECEMBER 2024
The Moon
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New Moon occurs on 1st at h 11-51 I.S.T. |
First Quarter occurs on 9th at h. 11-25 I.S.T |
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Full Moon occurs on 15th at h 14-32 I.S.T. |
Last Quarter occurs on 23th at h 06-58 I.S.T. |
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New Moon occurs on 31st at h 03-57 I.S.T. |
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The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 2nd. |
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The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 12th of this month and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 24th. |
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The Moon passes about 50 south of Mercury on 2nd, about 2½0 south of Venus on 5th, about ½0 north of Saturn on 8th, about 10 north of Neptune on 9th, about 4½0 north of Uranus on 13th, about 5½0 north of Jupiter on 15th after midnight, about 10 north of Mars on 18th, about 6½0 south of Mercury on 29th,
The Earth
The Earth is in Winter Solstice on 21st.
The Planets
Visibility of Planets:
Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible upto 9th of the month. From 10th of the month the planet becomes visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. Thereafter the planet rises about 1½ hours before sunrise throughout the month. The planet approaches the Perihelion position on its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 6th. The planet is in Inferior conjunction with Sun on 6th of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to Earth from 16th. The planet is in Greatest Western Elongation of about 22 from the Sun on 25th.
Venus: The planet sets about 3 hours to 3½ hours after sunset throughout the month.
Mars: The planet rises about 4 hours to 3½ hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 3½ hours to 3 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Retrograde with respect to the Earth from 7th.
Jupiter: The planet rises about ½ hour after sunset to close to sunset time upto first quarter of the month, and thereafter planet sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise upto third quarter of the month, and about 1 hour to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Opposition with the sun on 8th.
Saturn: The planet sets about ½ hour to 1 hours before local midnight upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 4th.
Uranus: The planet sets about 1 hour to 1½ hours before sunrise upto first quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 2 hours before it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 2½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 3½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.
Neptune: The planet sets about 1 hour to ½ hour after local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about ½ hour to close to local midnight time upto second quarter of the month, and close to local midnight time to about ½ hour before local midnight time upto third quarter of the month and about ½ hour to 1½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to Earth from 8th.The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 18th.
Conjunction of Planet:
Mercury passes about 7º north of Antares (Jyestha) on 10th and 22nd.
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Planets |
Planets in Zodiacal Constellation |
Magnitude |
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Mercury (Budha) |
Remains in Scorpion (Vrischika). |
+1.7 to +0.0 +0.0 to – 0.4 |
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Venus (Sukra) |
Moves from Sagittarius(Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 2nd. Moves from Capricornus (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha) on 28th. |
– 4.2 to – 4.5 |
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Mars (Mangala) |
Remains in Cancer (Karkata). |
– 0.5 to – 1.2 |
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Jupiter (Brihaspati) |
Remains in Taurus (Vrisha). |
– 2.8 to – 2.7 |
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Saturn (Sani) |
Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha). |
+ 1.0 to +1.1 |
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Uranus |
Moves from Taurus (Vrisha) to Aries (Mesha) on 13th. (Retrograde) |
+ 6.0 |
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Neptune |
Remains in Pisces (Mina). |
+ 8.0 |
Source : : Director
Positional Astronomy Centre
India Meteorological Department
Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.