​Dec (Mon) -- Quarterly Meeting of San Angelo Astronomy Assc, 7pm, ASU Planetarium (postponed from Nov 3)

 

Dec 4 - Full Moon, Supermoon. 

The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 23:15 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the cold winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule. This is also the last of three supermoons for 2025. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

 

Dec 7 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. 

The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 20.7 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

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Dec 7 - Conjunction of Moon and Jupiter. 

The Moon and Jupiter will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 3°42' to the north of Jupiter. The Moon will be 17 days old.

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Dec 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. 

The Geminids is the king of the meteor showers. It is considered by many to be the best shower in the heavens, producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1982. The shower runs annually from

December 7-17. It peaks this year on the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. The second quarter moon will block some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Geminids are so numerous that it should still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 

Dec 20 - New Moon. 

The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:45 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

 

Dec 21 - December Solstice. 

The December solstice occurs at 15:02 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Dec 21, 22 - Ursids Meteor Shower. 

The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The thin, crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

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2026

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Jan 3 - Full Moon, Supermoon. 

The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 10:04 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps. This moon has also been know as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule. This is also the first of three supermoons for 2026. The Moon will be near its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

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Jan 3, 4 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower. 

The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from Jan 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. Unfortunately the full moon will obscure all but the brightest meteors this year. But if you are patient, you may still be able to catch a few of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

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Jan 10 - Jupiter at Opposition.

The giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night. This is the best time to photograph Jupiter and its moons. A medium-sized telescope should be able to show you some of the details in Jupiter's cloud bands. A good pair of binoculars should allow you to see Jupiter's four largest moons, appearing as bright dots on either side of the planet.

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Feb 1 - Full Moon.

The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 20:11 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this moon has also been known by some tribes as the Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather made hunting difficult.

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Feb 2 -- Angelo Astronomy Quarterly Meeting

A chance to meet and greet in an informal setting, not out in the dark where no one can see. We meet at 7pm at the ASU Planetarium to discuss business and usually watch a show.

 

Feb 17 - New Moon.

The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 12:05 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

 

Feb 17 - Annular Solar Eclipse.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun. This results in a ring of light around the darkened Moon. The Sun's corona is not visible during an annular eclipse. This eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica and the southern Indian Ocean. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information) (NASA Interactive Google Map)

Feb 19 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation.

The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 18.1 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

Mar 3 - Full Moon.

The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:39 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Crow Moon, the Crust Moon, the Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.

 

Mar 3 - Total Lunar Eclipse.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth's dark shadow, or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then take on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout most of eastern Asia, Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and North America. (NASA Map and Eclipse Information)

Mar 19 - New Moon.

The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 01:26 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

Mar 20 - March Equinox.

The March equinox occurs at 14:45 UTC. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.

April 2 - Full Moon.

The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 02:13 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

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April 3 - Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation.

The planet Mercury reaches greatest western elongation of 27.8 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

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April 17 - New Moon.

The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 11:54 UTC. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

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April 22, 23 - Lyrids Meteor Shower.

The Lyrids is an average shower, usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The shower runs annually from April 16-25. It peaks this year on the night of the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The first quarter moon will set shortly after midnight leaving dark skies for what should be a great show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

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May 4 -- Angelo Astronomy Quarterly Meeting

A chance to meet and greet members and friends in an informal setting, not out in the dark where no one can see. We meet at 7pm at the ASU Planetarium to discuss business and usually watch a show.

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Aug 3 -- Angelo Astronomy Quarterly Meeting

A chance to meet and greet members and friends in an informal setting, not out in the dark where no one can see. We meet at 7pm at the ASU Planetarium to discuss business and usually watch a show.

​

Nov 2 -- Angelo Astronomy Quarterly Meeting

A chance to meet and greet members and friends in an informal setting, not out in the dark where no one can see. We meet at 7pm at the ASU Planetarium to discuss business and usually watch a show.