Venus shines brightly and is readily visible in the southwest after sunset this month. Its position gradually ascends higher in the sky each evening. On December 4th, the slender crescent moon gracefully hangs just below it, presenting a splendid opportunity for a remarkable photo. Saturn, although much dimmer than Venus, remains visible to the naked eye. It can be spotted towards the south as nightfall approaches and then moves westward as the weeks progress. Jupiter reaches opposition on December 7th, becoming the brightest it will be all year and visible throughout the night. It rises in the east-northeast as darkness descends. In the middle of the month, Jupiter can be observed between the nearly full moon and Taurus's brightest star, Aldebaran. Mars is set to double its brightness in the coming weeks, with its salmon-pink hue making it easily distinguishable. Currently, it rises about four hours after dark, but by New Year's Eve, it will come into view approximately 90 minutes after sunset. Additionally, on December 17th, the red planet will appear very close to the moon.
The visibility and positions of these planets offer a fascinating celestial show, allowing skywatchers to witness the wonders of the universe up close.
December isn't solely about planets; there are also numerous stars to discover. As evening falls, the mighty hunter Orion rises in the east, with Taurus the bull positioned above it and the stars of the twins in Gemini to their left. These constellations hold some extraordinary sights, such as the Crab Nebula and Pleiades star cluster in Taurus and the misty Orion Nebula, which hangs below Orion's belt. When you have Orion's distinctive belt of three stars in your view, refer to NASA's video for tips on using it to locate the so-called Winter Triangle, formed by three of the brightest stars in the winter sky: Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Procyon. The starry sky during December provides a wealth of opportunities for stargazers to explore and appreciate the beauty of the cosmos.
Each star and constellation has its own unique story and charm, adding to the allure of December's sky.
Meteor enthusiasts will be delighted to have the chance to enjoy the Geminid meteor shower. It peaks after midnight in the early morning of December 14th. At its peak, up to 150 meteors streak across the sky every hour. NASA states that the Geminids are "usually one of the best meteor showers of the year." However, it should be noted that this year, the nearly full moon may wash out the fainter meteors. Despite this, provided the skies are clear, there are numerous celestial delights to relish in the final weeks of 2024. Stargazers can look forward to a spectacular display of meteors as they gaze up at the night sky.
The Geminid meteor shower is a rare and awe-inspiring event that adds an extra element of excitement to December's skywatching.