Calendar of Events
The Kootenai Stargazers Astronomy Club meets the third Friday of each month.
Upcoming Meetings and presentations
- The monthly Astronomy Club meetings have been suspended until the Covid-19 situation settles down a little more.
- Stay tuned for additional updates. Thank you for your patience.
What's Up in the Night Sky
- Note: Observations are good for the lower 48 states, but more accurate for the Northwest Area.
- December 13-14: Geminoids Meteor Shower. This meteor shower is generally considered the king of meteor showers producing up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at the peak. The shower runs annually from December 7-17; it peaks on the night of the 13th (after midnight) and morning of the 14th. The nearly new moon will ensure dark skies for an excellent show.
- December 14: Total Solar Eclipse. Unfortunately it only be visible in southern Chile and Argentina. If you would like to follow the eclipse on-line, go to these websites:
NASA Map and Eclipse Information
- December 21: The December Solstice (first day of winter) in the northern hemisphere occurs at 3:02 A.M.
- December 21: Rare Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. This rare conjunction is known as the great conjunction. They will be so close that they will appear to make a bright double planet. Look to the west just after sunset for this impressive planetary pair.
- December 21-22: Ursids Meteor Shower. This is a minor meteor shower producing 5-10 meteors per hour. The shower runs annually from December 17-35 with the peak on the night of the 21st and the morning of the 22nd.. However since the Moon 60% Full, the meteor shower will be be difficult to detect.
- Moon: The Last Quarter Moon occurs on December 7. The New Moon occurs on December 14. The Last Quarter Moon occurs on December 21. The Full Moon occurs on December 30.
April 8, 2024 Next Total Solar Eclipse in the United States
- Future Total Eclipses in the United States
- See our Links page for additional information
