The solstice was yesterday at 22:23 UTC. The full moon falls today - less than a day behind the solstice - at 17:49 UTC today. We haven't had a December solstice and full moon less than a day apart since 2010. The next time will be 2029. Read more.
A "ring rain" will leave Saturn ringless in 100 to 300 million years.
Saturn's rings were named alphabetically in the order they were discovered. The narrow F ring marks the outer boundary of the main ring system. Image via NASA JPL/ Caltech/ Space Science Institute.
Tonight's full moon shines to the north of the constellation Orion, near Orion’s upraised Club. For the Northern Hemisphere, this full moon climbs up high, like the summer sun. For the Southern Hemisphere, it rides low like the winter sun.
A beautiful drama has been taking place before sunup this week, as giant planet Jupiter and innermost planet Mercury have swept close. Matthew Chin caught the pair from Hong Kong this morning. More photos here.
