December 2009 Lunar Highlights

Once in a Blue Moon, the second of two Full Moons in any one calendar month, results in a lunar eclipse, however exceptionally partial and all but invisible in the Western Hemisphere.

Charles Taylor
via the Lunar Observing forum

(all times UT)

Tuesday, December 1: Luna 0.03°S of M45 (1400)

Wednesday, December 2: Full Moon (0730)

Thursday, December 3: Luna 0.8°N of M35 (2000)

Friday, December 4: Perigee [33.0'/363,479 km (1400)
(225,855 miles)

Monday, December 7: Luna 5.0°S of Mars (0300)

Wednesday, December 9: Last Quarter (0013)

Wednesday, December 16: New Moon [lunation 1076] (1202)
-Extreme lunar crescent spotting data for L1076-80:

Friday, December 18: Luna 1.4° N of Mercury (0800)

Sunday, December 20: Apogee [29.4'/405,731 km] (1500)
(252,110 miles)

Monday, December 21: Luna 4.0°N of Jupiter (1500)

Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 24: First Quarter (1736)

Tuesday, December 29: Luna 0.03°N of M45 (0100)

New Years Eve
Thursday, December 31: Luna 0.8°N of M35 (0600)
Full Moon [blue moon] (1913)
Partial Lunar Eclipse [Dec 31/Jan 1]
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html