541.

Mercury at superior solar conjunction Mercury passes around the far side of the Sun. Sat, 19 Dec 2020 at 22:40 EDT (1,288 days ago) in Sagittarius

542.

December solstice 21 December will be the shortest day of 2020 in the northern hemisphere. Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 04:55 EDT (1,286 days ago) in Sagittarius

543.

Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn Jupiter and Saturn share the same right ascension, at a separation of 6'15". Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 08:34 EDT (1,286 days ago) in Capricornus

544.

Great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn Jupiter and Saturn will make their closest approach since the year 1623. Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 13:20 EDT (1,286 days ago) in Capricornus

545.

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. Mon, 21 Dec 2020 at 18:41 EDT (1,286 days ago) in Pisces

546.

Ursid meteor shower 2020 The Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 22 Dec 2020 (1,285 days ago) in Ursa Minor

547.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 5°34'. Wed, 23 Dec 2020 at 13:31 EDT (1,284 days ago) in Pisces

548.

Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Wed, 23 Dec 2020 at 18:23 EDT (1,284 days ago) in Pisces

549.

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. Thu, 24 Dec 2020 at 11:31 EDT (1,283 days ago) in Pisces

550.

Comet 398P/Boattini passes perihelion Comet 398P/Boattini makes its closest approach to the Sun. Sun, 27 Dec 2020 (1,280 days ago) in Perseus

551.

The cluster NGC 2232 is well placed The open star cluster NGC 2232 (mag 4.2) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. Mon, 28 Dec 2020 (1,279 days ago) in Monoceros

552.

The Moon at aphelion The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Sun, which happens each month around the time of full moon. Tue, 29 Dec 2020 at 11:34 EDT (1,278 days ago) in Gemini

553.

The Rosette Nebula is well placed The Rosette Nebula (C49; mag 9.0) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. Tue, 29 Dec 2020 (1,278 days ago) in Monoceros

554.

Full Moon The Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. Tue, 29 Dec 2020 at 22:28 EDT (1,278 days ago) in Gemini

555.

The cluster Messier 41 is well placed The open star cluster M41 (NGC 2287; mag 4.5) in Canis Major culminates at around midnight local time. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 (1,275 days ago) in Canis Major

556.

The Earth at perihelion The Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun. Sat, 02 Jan 2021 at 08:50 EDT (1,274 days ago) in Pisces

557.

Quadrantid meteor shower 2021 The Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sun, 03 Jan 2021 (1,273 days ago) in Bootes

558.

Moon at Last Quarter The Moon reaches last quarter phase – rising in the east at around midnight and appearing high in the sky by sunrise. Wed, 06 Jan 2021 at 04:37 EDT (1,270 days ago) in Virgo

559.

The Moon at perigee The Moon makes its monthly closest approach to the Earth, making it appear fractionally larger than at other times of the month. Sat, 09 Jan 2021 at 10:36 EDT (1,267 days ago) in Scorpius

560.

Lunar occultation of Beta1 Scorpii The Moon will pass in front of Beta1 Scorpii (Acrab), creating a lunar occultation visible from Hawaii and Midway Atoll. Sat, 09 Jan 2021 at 12:08 EDT (1,267 days ago) in Scorpius