TheSky (c) Astronomy Software 1984-1998
Sydney Observatory night sky map
December 2015
CAMELOPARDALIS
A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky
www.sydneyobservatory.com.au
CEPHEUS
The star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart,
Adelaide and Perth for December 2015 at about 7:30 pm (Local Standard Time) or 8:30 pm (Local Daylight Savings Time). For
Darwin and similar locations the chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be
visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown on the star chart. To use this star chart,
rotate the chart so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart
CASSIOPEIA
represents the point directly above your head, called the zenith, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.
North
Star Brightness
Capella
Zero or brighter
st
1 AURIGA
magnitude
2nd
3rd
4th
Moon Phase
Last quarter:
New Moon:
Deneb
First quarter:
CYGNUS Full Moon:
LACERTA
PERSEUS
03rd
11th
19th
25th
NW
Andromeda Galaxy
NE
ANDROMEDA
M45 (Pleiades or
Seven Sisters)
TRIANGULUM
Hamal
ARIES
TAURUS
Hyades
Aldebaran
Aldebaran
VULPECULA
PEGASUS
TAURUS
PISCES First quarter
Moon on 19th
SAGITTA
DELPHINUS
EQUULEUS
Mira
First point of Aries
Betelgeuse
ORION
ORION
Orion's belt
Altair
CETUS
M42
AQUARIUS
ERIDANUS
East
Rigel
AQUILA
Saucepan
SCULPTOR
FORNAX
Fomalhaut
PISCIS AUSTRINUS
PISCIS AUSTRINUS
West
Betelgeuse
CAPRICORNUS
Mars
LEPUS
PHOENIX
ERIDANUS
Sirius
GRUS
MICROSCOPIUM
CAELUM
Sirius
Achernar
COLUMBA
SAGITTARIUS
CANIS MAJOR
INDUS
TUCANA
PICTOR
RETICULUM
Adhara
HYDRUS
SAGITTARIUS
SMC
DORADO
Canopus
LMC
Tarantula Nebula
MENSA
CORONA AUSTRALIS
PAVO
Galactic centre
OCTANS
Centre of the Galaxy
South Celestial Pole
FALSE CROSS
VOLANS
CHAMAELEON
CARINA
DIAMOND CROSS
SE
Bright star PYXIS
Faint star
VELA
Ecliptic
Milky Way
P Planet
LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud
ANTLIA
SMC or Small Magellanic
Cloud
SERPENS
TELESCOPIUM
PUPPIS
Chart Key
SCUTUM
Venus on 23rd
HOROLOGIUM
Achernar
SCORPIUS
ARA
APUS
SCORPIUS
TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE
NORMA
MUSCA
Eta Carina
CIRCINUS
SOUTHERN CROSS
CRUX
Mimosa
NORMA
SW
Antares
POINTERS
CIRCINUS
Alpha Centauri
Hadar
LUPUS
South
HYDRA
Summer solstice occurs on the 22nd and this is the longest CENTAURUS
day of the year in the southern hemisphere, with Sydney
experiencing 14 hours and 24 minutes of daylight. The best time to view the Moon using binoculars or a small telescope is a few
days either side of the first quarter Moon. Crux (the Southern Cross) is just above the southern horizon making it difficult to
locate, and Crux can be easily confused with the Diamond Cross, or the False Cross. So if looking for Crux, also look for the
adjacent Pointer Stars. December sees the return of the summer constellations of Orion (the Hunter) and Taurus (the Bull)
which can be found in the eastern part of the sky.
Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to
5pm daily – except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to
noon on New Year’s Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times vary depending
on the season) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy planetarium session if
cloudy), and 3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are essential for night programs.
For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.com.au or call (02) 9921
3485. Sydney Observatory is at 1003 Upper Fort Street, Observatory Hill, in the historic Rocks
area of Sydney.
Sydney Observatory is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using the
software TheSky. This month’s map was compiled by Brenan Dew © 2015 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.