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December has an average high of 38 degrees,
and an average low of 11 degrees. Average precipitation is
1.35 inches, Average
snow fall 15.4 inches.
Englemann spruce and subalpine
firs, which grow
in mixed spruce-fir
forests above 9,000 feet, have evolved
to live in an extreme
climate. Their slender
growth pattern
and down-sloping
branches limit snow
loading and wind
exposure. A waxy coating on
their needles seals
in moisture and thick
needle covered branches
shield trunks from
windblown ice particles.
When temperatures warm
above freezing in
early spring these
trees can begin photosynthesis long
before deciduous trees leaf out.
Mating season for bighorn sheep (the official state mammal
of Colorado) peaks
in December. The bighorns bluff, butt and bash each other with
their horns in a battle for the ladies.
Speed of impact
can reach 50 miles per hour. Young sired by the victor will
be born in June.
Weasels, snowshoe
hares and ptarmigan
(a type of grouse) have all changed to white fur or plumage
by late December, both for camouflage from predators,
and in the case
of the weasel, to aid in stealth when hunting.
Beavers remain
alert in their
lodges all winter, eating from branches they have stored under
water in pools created by their dams.
The National
Audubon Society
annual Christmas Bird Count happens every year during the last
half of December nation wide. These counts welcome
all bird-watchers
of all abilities and affiliations. Visit http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html
or call the San
Juan Audubon Society chapter at 970-247-4272 for information
on the count in our area.
Last Quarter Half Moon:
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Dec
12 |
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| New Moon: |
Dec
20 |
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| First Quarter Half Moon: |
Dec 27 |
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| Full Moon: |
Dec
5 |
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| Date |
Sunrise |
Sunset |
Day Length |
| 1st |
7:07 am |
4:54 pm |
9:47 hours |
| 15th |
7:18 am |
4:55 pm |
9:37 hours |
| 31th |
7:25 am |
5:04 pm |
9:39 hours |
There is much to see this
month: A wonderfully
tight Mercury/Mars/Jupiter
conjunction stands low
in the predawn twilight
on the 9th. The next
morning, Mercury and
Jupiter are extremely
close together, and Mercury
remains visible during
the whole first half
of the month. Jupiter
emerges from the solar
glare as a morning star
and crosses into Scorpius.
Venus appears in the
evening sky, although
it is still low during twilight. Saturn rises
by 9:30 p.m. at midmonth
and is near the Moon
on the 9th. (Based on
the Old Farmer's Almanac).
The Geminid meteor showers should
be visible before midnight
on both the 13th and 14th. The radiant is located
in the northern portion
of the constellation
Gemini in the east. These meteors tend to move moderately fast, when compared
to other
meteor showers, and Geminids
tend to be rather bright.
It is believed that their source is not a comet, as it is with most meteor
showers,
but originates with Asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
The first day of Winter, or the Winter solstice,
occurs on December 21st. On this day, the sun rises and sets as far
south of east
as it will go during
the year. The arc the sun as it travels across the sky is also as low
overhead as it will be all year.
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