Buckle up, star travelers this month is an exciting one, with major astrological events ahead. Check out some of our highlights coming up this month below:
• DEC 7: Super Cold Moon
The Cold Moon is one of the traditional names for the Full Moon in December because of the onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. For the second month in a row, this is also a Supermoon. – Super!
• DEC 13/14: Geminid Meteor Shower
The Geminids peak around the night of December 13–14, depending on your time zone. It is usually one of the best Meteor Showers of the year. – Keep an eye out!
• DEC 21: December Solstice
The December solstice takes place at 15:03 UTC. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. Meanwhile in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.
Tarantula nebula
The Tarantula Nebula—also known as 30 Doradus, NGC 2070, or “That Giant Cosmic Bug Nobody Asked For”—is the busiest star factory in our galactic neighborhood. It lives 160,000–170,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is basically the Milky Way’s plus-one galaxy. If you’re in the southern hemisphere and squint at the Dorado constellation.
SOUTHERN BEEHIVE
The Southern Beehive Cluster, is basically a giant cosmic hangout in the constellation Carina, about 1,300 light-years away close enough that it still feels neighborly. It’s filled with hundreds of young, overachieving blue-white stars plus a few red giants who seem to be supervising. 140 million years old, the whole cluster is basically a cosmic teenager, glowing brightly and refusing to calm down.
Canopus
Canopus is the second-brightest star in the night sky, basically the runner-up in the universe’s talent show, and the brightest star in the southern constellation Carina. It’s a giant star about 310 light-years away, which is why it never drops by to say hello. The name “Canopus” has been reused so many times — an ancient Egyptian city, a class of British battleships, and even a spot in Dune.
