Sun, Moon, and Stars: December 2001
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
Sun, Moon & Stars
Movement of the heavenly bodies: December 2001
Movement of the heavenly bodies: December 2001
| Celestial links · Visibility of the Planets · Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset · Equinoxes and Solstices · Eclipses in 2001 · Astronomical terms · Calendar 2001 | Visit the Astronomy Center for more on the universe, the solar system, and related astronomical phenomena |
December Calendar
| Moon Phase | Day | Phenomenon | Hour (UT) | Hour (EST) |
 | 1 | Saturn is 0 degrees 5 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. | 0200 | 9 pm (Nov. 30) |
 | 3 | Jupiter is 1 degree 6 minutes south of the Moon. | 1100 | 6 am |
| 3 | Saturn is at opposition, that is, Saturn and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth. | 1400 | 9 am |
 | 4 | Mercury is in superior conjunction, that is, Mercury and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. | 2200 | 5 pm |
 | 6 | The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. | 2300 | 6 pm |
 | 7 | Pluto is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Pluto and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. | 0400 | 11 pm (Dec. 6) |
 | 7 | LAST QUARTER | 2000 | 3 pm |
 | 14 | NEW MOON Eclipse | 2100 | 4 pm |
 | 17 | Saturn is 4 degrees north of Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. | 1700 | 12 pm (noon) |
 | 18 | Neptune is 4 degrees north of the Moon. | 0700 | 2 am |
 | 19 | Uranus is 4 degrees north of the Moon. | 1200 | 7 am |
 | 20 | Mars is 4 degrees north of the Moon. | 2000 | 3 pm |
 | 21 | The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. | 1300 | 8 am |
| 21 | Solstice | 1900 | 2 pm |
 | 22 | FIRST QUARTER | 2100 | 4 pm |
 | 25 | The asteroid Juno appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent direct motion changes to backward, or retrograde, motion. | 2100 | 4 pm |
 | 28 | Saturn is 0 degrees 2 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. | 0800 | 3 am |
 | 30 | FULL MOON Penumbral Eclipse | 1100 | 6 am |
| 30 | Jupiter is 1 degree 2 minutes south of the Moon. The planet is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. | 1400 | 9 am |
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