
SCAS CELEBRATES ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ASTRONOMY
OUTREACH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN SOUTH FLORIDA
1922 - 2022
BILL SADOWSKI PARK IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC OBSERVATION.
HOURS ARE DUSK TO 10 PM.
THE D'AURIA OBSERVATORY IS OPEN FOR PUBLIC OBSERVATION
AND ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY.
HOURS ARE DUSK TO 10 PM.
SCAS Stargazer
DECEMBER 2022 - Compiled by Barb Yager
Lunar Timetable

Full Moon December 7th @ 11:08 pm

Last Quarter Moon December 16th @ 3:56 am

New Moon December 23 @ 5:17 am

First Quarter Moon December 29th @ 8:21 pm
METEOR SHOWERS THIS MONTH
Geminids and Ursids
These meteor showers will both be active through December 24th, respectively.
Geminids
Currently Active
Active from November 19th to December 24th, 2022
The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year and meteor enthusiasts are certain to circle December 13 and 14 on their calendars. This is the one major shower that provides good activity prior to midnight as the constellation of Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward. The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Due to their medium-slow velocity, persistent trains are not usually seen. These meteors are also seen in the southern hemisphere, but only during the middle of the night and at a reduced rate.
Shower details - Radiant: 07:24 +32.3° - ZHR: 150 - Velocity: 21 miles/sec (medium - 34km/sec) - Parent Object: 3200 Phaethon (asteroid)
Next Peak - The Geminids will next peak on the Dec 13-14, 2022 night. On this night, the moon will be 72% full.
Ursids
Currently active
Active from December 13th to December 24th, 2022
The Ursids are often neglected due to the fact it peaks just before Christmas and the rates are much less than the Geminds, which peaks just a week before the Ursids. Observers will normally see 5-10 Ursids per hour during the late morning hours on the date of maximum activity. There have been occasional outbursts when rates have exceeded 25 per hour. These outbursts appear unrelated to the perihelion dates of comet 8P/Tuttle. This shower is strictly a northern hemisphere event as the radiant fails to clear the horizon or does so simultaneously with the start of morning twilight as seen from the southern tropics.
Shower details - Radiant: 14:36 +75.3° - ZHR: 10 - Velocity: 20.5 miles/sec (medium - 33km/sec) - Parent Object: 8P/Tuttle
Next Peak - The Ursids will next peak on the Dec 21-22, 2022 night. On this night, the moon will be 3% full.
Here are some tips on how to maximize your time looking for meteors and fireballs during any meteor shower:
- Get out of the city to a place where the city and artificial lights do not impede your viewing
- If you are out viewing the shower during its peak, you will not need any special equipment. You should be able to see the shower with your naked eyes.
- Carry a blanket or a comfortable chair with you - viewing meteors, just like any other kind of stargazing is a waiting game, and you need to be comfortable. Plus, you may not want to leave until you can't see the majestic celestial fireworks anymore.
BRIGHT COMETS THIS MONTH
NO BRIGHT COMETS
Open the link: News and information about Bright Comets
SCAS EVENTS
NASA NEWS
ISS - Miami Track
Open the Link: News and Information about ISS passes over Miami.
Evening
Planets
Morning
Planets
Constellations