See A ‘Christmas Star,’ A Supermoon And Meteors: December’s Night Sky

Vacation background with illuminated Christmas tree below starry evening sky.

getty

Every month, I pick North America’s celestial highlights for the weeks forward (which additionally apply to mid-northern latitudes within the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for extra in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and extra.

From Jupiter glowing brightly like a “Christmas Star” to the ultimate supermoon of the 12 months, December 2025 gives skywatchers loads of items. There’s additionally the 12 months’s strongest meteor bathe — the Geminids — and the return of brilliant winter stars because the nights get longer and darker within the Northern Hemisphere.

Right here’s every part you want to know concerning the evening sky in December 2025.

Winter Circle Of Stars

When: 2 hours after sundown

The place: Japanese and southeastern evening sky

Go exterior and face east to search out the brilliant star Aldebaran, the attention of Taurus the Bull, glowing orange. This marks the beginning of the Winter Circle — a large asterism that, going clockwise, loops by means of Rigel (beneath Aldebaran), Sirius, Procyon, Pollux and Capella earlier than circling again to Aldebaran.

Jupiter As The ‘Christmas Star’

When: About 90 minutes after sundown, anytime in December

The place: East

Jupiter, sitting brilliant within the constellation Gemini, photobombs the Winter Circle this 12 months, shining brightly between Procyon and Pollux. It rises shortly after sundown, with its brilliance (at magnitude –2.6) making it a powerful contender for this 12 months’s symbolic “Christmas Star.” There’s a purpose for that; it involves a brilliant “opposition” on Jan. 10, when it should attain its brightest in a 13-month interval.

Chilly Supermoon

When: Nightfall on Dec. 4

The place: East

Look east once more on Dec. 4, when the “Chilly Supermoon” rises simply after sundown. The moon turns full at 6:14 p.m. EST within the constellation Taurus, however that actual time is irrelevant to moon-watchers, who shall be in place earlier that evening to see our pure satellite tv for pc seem on the jap horizon. The ultimate supermoon of the 12 months — although not fairly as massive in obvious dimension as November’s supermoon — will seem bigger and brighter than common due to its barely nearer proximity to Earth.

The Pleiades And The Moon

When: After darkish on Dec. 3 and Dec. 31

The place: East

You’ll be able to search for the Pleiades star cluster— simply above Aldebaran — twinkling like frost after darkish any evening this month. Nonetheless, essentially the most stunning open cluster of stars within the evening sky (additionally referred to as the Seven Sisters) shall be visited by the moon this month. On Dec. 3 and on New Yr’s Eve, a brilliant moon slides previous the Pleiades.

Geminid Meteor Bathe Peaks

When: In a single day on Dec. 13-14

The place: All-sky

It might not be as well-known as summer season’s Perseids, however the Geminid meteor bathe is technically the strongest of the 12 months. Brought on not by a comet, however an asteroid, put together for over 100 “taking pictures stars” if the skies are clear. The meteors will seem to radiate from the constellation Gemini within the southeast, however can seem wherever within the evening sky.

‘Capturing Stars’ On The Solstice

When: In a single day on Dec. 21-22

The place: All-sky

If you happen to can stand the chilly, get exterior at nightfall on Dec. 21 to identify a slim crescent moon sink into the western horizon — a good way to mark the solstice, which arrives at precisely 15:03 UTC on Dec. 21. Come again nearer to midnight and you may even see a dusting of “taking pictures stars” because the Ursid meteor bathe peaks. Count on about 10 meteors per hour from the Ursids, radiating close to the Little Dipper within the northern sky.

The occasions and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For essentially the most correct location-specific info, seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium.

Wishing you clear skies and huge eyes.