161.

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, 16 Dec 2023 at 13:52 EDT (156 days ago) in Capricornus

162.

Comae Berenicid meteor shower 2023 The Comae Berenicid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sat, 16 Dec 2023 (156 days ago) in Leo

163.

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 2023 (157 days ago) in Orion

164.

The Orion Nebula is well placed The Orion Nebula (M42; mag 4.0) culminates at around midnight local time. Fri, 15 Dec 2023 (157 days ago) in Orion

165.

Geminid meteor shower 2023 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 14 Dec 2023 (158 days ago) in Gemini

166.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury The Moon and Mercury share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°21'. Thu, 14 Dec 2023 at 00:20 EDT (158 days ago) in Sagittarius

167.

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. Wed, 13 Dec 2023 at 10:39 EDT (159 days ago) in Sagittarius

168.

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 2023 (160 days ago) in Dorado

169.

New Moon The Moon disappears into the Sun's glare for a few days. Tue, 12 Dec 2023 at 18:33 EDT (160 days ago) in Ophiuchus

170.

σ-Hydrid meteor shower 2023 The σ-Hydrid meteor shower reaches its peak. Tue, 12 Dec 2023 (160 days ago) in Hydra

171.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus The Moon and Venus share the same right ascension, at a separation of 3°38'. Sat, 09 Dec 2023 at 11:54 EDT (163 days ago) in Virgo

172.

Monocerotid meteor shower 2023 The Monocerotid meteor shower reaches its peak. Sat, 09 Dec 2023 (163 days ago) in Monoceros

173.

Close approach of the Moon and Venus The Moon and Venus pass close to each other. Sat, 09 Dec 2023 at 08:43 EDT (163 days ago) in Virgo

174.

Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky Mercury is bright and well placed in the evening sky. Fri, 08 Dec 2023 (164 days ago) in Sagittarius

175.

Mercury at dichotomy Mercury reaches half phase in the evening sky. Fri, 08 Dec 2023 at 06:44 EDT (164 days ago) in Sagittarius

176.

Puppid-Velid meteor shower 2023 The Puppid-Velid meteor shower reaches its peak. Thu, 07 Dec 2023 (165 days ago) in Vela

177.

December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower 2023 The December φ-Cassiopeid meteor shower reaches its peak. Wed, 06 Dec 2023 (166 days ago) in Andromeda

178.

Neptune ends retrograde motion Neptune returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Wed, 06 Dec 2023 at 07:38 EDT (166 days ago) in Aquarius

179.

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, 05 Dec 2023 at 00:49 EDT (167 days ago) in Leo

180.

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, 04 Dec 2023 at 13:42 EDT (168 days ago) in Leo