561.

Moon at First Quarter The Moon reaches first quarter phase – appearing high in the sky at sunset and setting in the west at around midnight. Tue, 26 Dec 2017 at 04:20 EDT (2,425 days ago) in Pisces

562.

Ursid meteor shower 2017 The Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak. Fri, 22 Dec 2017 (2,429 days ago) in Ursa Minor

563.

Saturn at solar conjunction Saturn is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Thu, 21 Dec 2017 at 15:59 EDT (2,430 days ago) in Sagittarius

564.

December solstice 21 December will be the shortest day of 2017 in the northern hemisphere. Thu, 21 Dec 2017 at 11:23 EDT (2,430 days ago) in Sagittarius

565.

December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2017 The December Leonis Minorid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 19 Dec 2017 (2,432 days ago) in Leo Minor

566.

The Moon at perihelion The Moon passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun, which happens each month around the time of new moon. Mon, 18 Dec 2017 at 21:39 EDT (2,433 days ago) in Sagittarius

567.

The Moon at apogee The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Earth, making it appear fractionally smaller than at other times of the month. Mon, 18 Dec 2017 at 20:25 EDT (2,433 days ago) in Sagittarius

568.

New Moon The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days. Mon, 18 Dec 2017 at 01:31 EDT (2,433 days ago) in Sagittarius

569.

Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition Asteroid 20 Massalia makes closest approach to the Earth. Fri, 15 Dec 2017 at 21:22 EDT (2,436 days ago) in Taurus

570.

Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2017 The Comae Berenicid meteor shower reaches its peak. Fri, 15 Dec 2017 (2,435 days ago) in Leo

571.

The Orion Nebula is well placed The Orion Nebula (M42; mag 4.0) culminates at around midnight local time. Fri, 15 Dec 2017 (2,436 days ago) in Orion

572.

The Running Man cluster is well placed The Running Man cluster NGC 1977 (mag 4.2) in Orion's sword culminates at around midnight local time. Fri, 15 Dec 2017 (2,436 days ago) in Orion

573.

Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter The Moon and Jupiter pass close to each other. Thu, 14 Dec 2017 at 11:56 EDT (2,437 days ago) in Libra

574.

Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter The Moon and Jupiter share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°14'. Thu, 14 Dec 2017 at 09:26 EDT (2,437 days ago) in Libra

575.

Geminid meteor shower 2017 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 14 Dec 2017 (2,437 days ago) in Gemini

576.

Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Wed, 13 Dec 2017 at 14:12 EDT (2,438 days ago) in Virgo

577.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°09'. Wed, 13 Dec 2017 at 11:27 EDT (2,438 days ago) in Virgo

578.

Mercury at inferior solar conjunction Mercury passes around the near side of the Sun. Tue, 12 Dec 2017 at 20:45 EDT (2,439 days ago) in Ophiuchus

579.

The Large Magellanic Cloud is well placed The Milky Way's dwarf companion, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC; mag 0.9), in Dorado culminates at around midnight local time. Tue, 12 Dec 2017 (2,439 days ago) in Dorado

580.

Mercury at perihelion Mercury passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Tue, 12 Dec 2017 at 06:27 EDT (2,439 days ago) in Ophiuchus