The sky on Thursday, 17 December 2026
On Thursday, 17 December 2026 the Moon is a First Quarter, 54% lit, in Aries (tropical) and Kumbha rashi (sidereal). The Sun is in Sagittarius.
Panchang at sunrise (India)
| Tithi | Shukla Ashtami until 17 Dec, 11:31 pm IST |
| Paksha | Shukla (waxing) |
| Nakshatra | Purva Bhadrapada, pada 3 (lord Jupiter) until 17 Dec, 3:34 pm IST |
| Moon rashi | Kumbha |
| Sun rashi | Dhanu |
Lahiri ayanamsa. Times are exact astronomical crossings in IST. Printed panchangs reckon tithi and nakshatra from local sunrise, so expect differences of a few minutes, and of a day near a boundary.
The Moon tonight
Half lit and high at dusk. Plans made at the new moon meet their first resistance. Push a little.
The Moon in Aries makes for a short fuse and a quick evening. Start the thing; explain it later.
Next full Moon: 24 Dec, 7:04 am IST. Next new Moon: 8 Jan, 1:53 am IST.
Where the planets are
| Planet | Sign (tropical) | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | Sagittarius 17° | lost in the Sun’s glare |
| Venus | Scorpio 10° | morning sky, east |
| Mars | Virgo 7° | morning sky, east |
| Jupiter | Leo 27° ℞ retrograde | morning sky, east |
| Saturn | Aries 8° | evening sky, west |
Retrograde today: Jupiter. All retrograde dates.
Geminids meteor shower: peaked 3 day(s) ago, up to 150 meteors an hour from Gemini. All meteor showers.
Questions
- What is the moon phase on 17 Dec 2026?
- First Quarter, 54% illuminated, with the Moon in Aries (tropical) / Kumbha (sidereal).
- What is the tithi on 17 Dec 2026?
- Shukla Ashtami at sunrise in India, until 17 Dec, 11:31 pm IST.
- Which nakshatra is the Moon in on 17 Dec 2026?
- Purva Bhadrapada (pada 3), ruled by Jupiter, until 17 Dec, 3:34 pm IST.
- Is Mercury retrograde on 17 Dec 2026?
- No. Mercury is moving direct in Sagittarius.
See tonight’s sky painted live from these positions, or paint the sky you were born under. It’s free and works in your browser.
Paint my sky Tonight’s almanac