Sun, Moon, and Stars: December 2000
Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff 
Sun, Moon & Stars
Movement of the heavenly bodies: December 2000
Movement of the heavenly bodies: December 2000
| Celestial links · Visibility of the Planets · Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset · Equinoxes and Solstices · Eclipses in 2000 · Astronomical terms · Calendar 2000 | 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 | The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. | 0000 | 7 pm (Nov. 30) |
 | 2 | Uranus is 2 degrees north of the Moon. | 0100 | 8 pm (Dec. 1) |
 | 4 | FIRST QUARTER | 0400 | 11 pm (Dec. 3) |
| 4 | Pluto is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Pluto and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. | 1400 | 9 am |
 | 9 | Saturn is 1 degree 8 minutes north of the Moon. | 1700 | 12 noon |
 | 10 | Jupiter is 3 degrees north of the Moon. | 0800 | 3 am |
 | 11 | Saturn is 1 degree 6 minutes north of the Moon. | 0100 | 8 pm (Dec. 10) |
| 11 | FULL MOON | 0900 | 4 am |
| 11 | Venus is 3 degrees south of Neptune. | 2100 | 4 pm |
 | 12 | The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. | 2200 | 5 pm |
 | 18 | LAST QUARTER | 0100 | 8 pm (Dec. 17) |
 | 20 | Mars is 4 degrees south of the Moon. | 0700 | 2 am |
 | 21 | Solstice. | 1400 | 9 am |
 | 23 | Venus is 1 degree three minutes south of Uranus. | 2100 | 4 pm |
| 23 | Ceres, the largest asteroid, is 0 degrees 9 minutes south of the Moon. The asteroid is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. | 2300 | 6 pm |
 | 25 | NEW MOON (Eclipse) | 1700 | 12 noon |
| 25 | Mercury is in superior conjunction, that is, Mercury and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. | 1900 | 2 pm |
 | 28 | Neptune is 2 degrees north of the Moon. | 1800 | 1 pm |
| 28 | The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. | 1500 | 8 am |
 | 29 | Uranus is 2 degrees north of the Moon. | 1000 | 5 am |
| 29 | Venus is 1 degree 8 minutes north of the Moon. | 2200 | 5 pm |
See also:
