December Space Schedule
Dec. 5: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Dragon cargo resupply mission (CRS-21) to the International Space Station. It will lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, at 11:39 a.m. EST (1639 GMT).
Dec. 10: A Chinese Long March 11 rocket will launch the Gravitational Wave High-energy Electromagnetic Counterpart All-sky Monitor (GECAM) mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China.
Dec. 13-14: The Geminid meteor shower peaks.
Dec. 14: The only total solar eclipse of 2020 will cross through the southern tip of South America.
Dec. 16/17: The waxing crescent moon will be in conjunction with Jupiter at 11:30 p.m. EST. A few hours later on Dec. 17, it will be in conjunction with Saturn at 12:20 a.m. EST. Look for them near the southwestern horizon just after sunset.
Dec. 21: The winter solstice arrives, marking the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dec. 21: Jupiter and Saturn will make a close approach in the evening sky. Known as the "Great Conjunction," See story above.
Dec. 21-22: The Ursid meteor shower peaks.
Dec. 23: The waxing, gibbous moon will be in conjunction with Mars.
Dec. 29: The full moon of December, also known as the Cold Moon.
