This is not intended to be comprehensive – it is a quick guide to help you find a few things in the night sky without any equipment, just your eyes. All of these are very bright and easy to find when walking around the village.
The Planets This Month
Jupiter
Rises around 7:30pm in the North-East at the start of the month.
By the end of December it rises earlier, around 5:30pm.
Very bright and steady; once it’s up, Jupiter can be seen all night.
Saturn
Visible at sunrise in the South-East at the beginning of the month.
By the end of December, at sunrise it will be further round towards the South.
During the nights of late December, Saturn is up early and remains visible for most of the night.
Mercury
Best seen in the first week of December.
Look low in the South-East, about 45 minutes before sunrise.
Needs a clear horizon and no cloud — bright but right on the edge of visibility.
(Venus and Mars are not well placed this month.)
Phases of the Moon
Full Moon – 4 December
Last Quarter – 11 December
New Moon – 20 December
First Quarter – 27 December
ISS
There a bright International Space Station pass at 7am on 22nd
Meteor Showers
Geminids – peak around 14 December
One of the best meteor showers of the year.
Best time: from 10pm onwards, improving after midnight.
Where to look: Anywhere in the sky — but the meteors appear to radiate from the East–South-East, near the constellation Gemini (above Orion).
Notes: Bright, colourful meteors. A thin crescent Moon this year, so good conditions.
Notes: Low rate but pleasant to watch under dark skies; short bursts of activity are possible.
What Else to Look For
Orion rising in the East by mid-evening, marking the arrival of winter skies.
Long, dark evenings around the Winter Solstice (21 December) make this the best month for easy stargazing.
I have made or found the following charts -
- 7th Jupiter and Moon
- 13/14 Dec Greminids Meteor Shower
- 22nd ISS pass
- 26th Saturn and Moon
- Orion and Gemini
- Phases of the Moon