501.

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. Sun, 12 Dec 2021 (947 days ago) in Dorado

502.

Geminid meteor shower 2021 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 14 Dec 2021 (945 days ago) in Gemini

503.

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. Wed, 15 Dec 2021 (944 days ago) in Orion

504.

The Orion Nebula is well placed The Orion Nebula (M42; mag 4.0) culminates at around midnight local time. Wed, 15 Dec 2021 (944 days ago) in Orion

505.

Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2021 The Comae Berenicid meteor shower reaches its peak. Wed, 15 Dec 2021 (943 days ago) in Leo

506.

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. Fri, 17 Dec 2021 at 21:14 EDT (942 days ago) in Taurus

507.

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. Sat, 18 Dec 2021 at 01:57 EDT (941 days ago) in Taurus

508.

Full Moon The Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. Sat, 18 Dec 2021 at 23:35 EDT (940 days ago) in Taurus

509.

December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2021 The December Leonis Minorid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sun, 19 Dec 2021 (940 days ago) in Leo Minor

510.

December solstice 21 December will be the shortest day of 2021 in the northern hemisphere. Tue, 21 Dec 2021 at 10:53 EDT (938 days ago) in Sagittarius

511.

Ursid meteor shower 2021 The Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak. Wed, 22 Dec 2021 (937 days ago) in Ursa Minor

512.

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. Sun, 26 Dec 2021 at 21:24 EDT (933 days ago) in Virgo

513.

The cluster NGC 2232 is well placed The open star cluster NGC 2232 (mag 4.2) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. Tue, 28 Dec 2021 (931 days ago) in Monoceros

514.

Conjunction of Venus and Mercury Venus and Mercury share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°13'. Tue, 28 Dec 2021 at 20:10 EDT (931 days ago) in Sagittarius

515.

The Rosette Nebula is well placed The Rosette Nebula (C49; mag 9.0) in Monoceros culminates at around midnight local time. Wed, 29 Dec 2021 (930 days ago) in Monoceros

516.

Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Fri, 31 Dec 2021 at 14:52 EDT (928 days ago) in Ophiuchus

517.

Lunar occultation of Mars The Moon will pass in front of Mars, creating a lunar occultation visible from Australia. Fri, 31 Dec 2021 at 14:52 EDT (928 days ago) in Ophiuchus

518.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 56'. Fri, 31 Dec 2021 at 15:13 EDT (928 days ago) in Ophiuchus

519.

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, 01 Jan 2022 at 17:55 EDT (927 days ago) in Sagittarius

520.

New Moon The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days. Sun, 02 Jan 2022 at 13:34 EDT (926 days ago) in Sagittarius