561.

Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova passes perihelion Comet 45P/Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova makes its closest approach to the Sun. Thu, 22 Dec 2016 (2,740 days ago) in Capricornus

562.

Ursid meteor shower 2016 The Ursid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 22 Dec 2016 (2,740 days ago) in Ursa Minor

563.

December solstice 21 December will be the shortest day of 2016 in the northern hemisphere. Wed, 21 Dec 2016 at 05:41 EDT (2,741 days ago) in Sagittarius

564.

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. Tue, 20 Dec 2016 at 20:56 EDT (2,742 days ago) in Virgo

565.

December Leonis Minorid meteor shower 2016 The December Leonis Minorid meteor shower reaches its peak. Mon, 19 Dec 2016 (2,743 days ago) in Leo Minor

566.

Lunar occultation of Regulus The Moon will pass in front of Regulus (Alpha Leonis), creating a lunar occultation visible from Australia. Sun, 18 Dec 2016 at 13:08 EDT (2,744 days ago) in Leo

567.

The Orion Nebula is well placed The Orion Nebula (M42; mag 4.0) culminates at around midnight local time. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 (2,747 days ago) in Orion

568.

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. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 (2,747 days ago) in Orion

569.

Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2016 The Comae Berenicid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 (2,747 days ago) in Leo

570.

Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky Mercury is bright and well placed in the evening sky. Thu, 15 Dec 2016 (2,747 days ago) in Sagittarius

571.

Mercury at dichotomy Mercury reaches half phase in the evening sky. Wed, 14 Dec 2016 at 11:47 EDT (2,748 days ago) in Sagittarius

572.

Geminid meteor shower 2016 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 13 Dec 2016 (2,748 days ago) in Gemini

573.

Full Moon The Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. Tue, 13 Dec 2016 at 19:05 EDT (2,749 days ago) in Taurus

574.

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, 13 Dec 2016 at 02:17 EDT (2,749 days ago) in Taurus

575.

Lunar occultation of Aldebaran The Moon will pass in front of Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including the Contiguous United States, Canada, Mexico and Spain amongst others. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 23:29 EDT (2,749 days ago) in Taurus

576.

Close approach of the Moon and Collinder 50 The Moon and Collinder 50 pass close to each other. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 20:00 EDT (2,750 days ago) in Taurus

577.

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. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 (2,750 days ago) in Dorado

578.

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. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 at 18:29 EDT (2,750 days ago) in Taurus

579.

σ-Hydrid meteor shower 2016 The σ-Hydrid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sun, 11 Dec 2016 (2,751 days ago) in Hydra

580.

Mercury at greatest elongation east Mercury is bright and well placed in the evening sky. Sun, 11 Dec 2016 at 02:55 EDT (2,751 days ago) in Sagittarius