Geminids, Solstice, Full Cold Moon Top December Celestial Calendar

The Geminids shooting star show, which some meteor experts say is hands-down the best in the heavens, highlights skywatching events in December, a busy month on the celestial calendar.

December is also the month for the winter solstice, which occurs at 4:19 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, the 21st when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. The astronomical event is known as the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere (meteorological winter starts Dec. 1), it has the fewest hours of daylight of the year.

Also, December’s full moon reaches peak illumination at 4:02 a.m. EST on Dec. 15. It is known as the “cold moon” because it occurs as winter’s chill begins to settle in.

The bright moonlight will be problematic for viewing the Geminid meteor shower at its Dec. 13-14 peak. Under clear, dark skies, up to 120 meteors an hour may be visible. Bright, fast and yellowish, these plentiful meteors rival the August Perseids in volume and are best viewed after 2 a.m.

Produced by debris left behind by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the Geminids began appearing in the mid-1800s, but the shower wasn’t particularly noteworthy and produced only 10 or 20 meteors an hour, according to NASA. They have grown in intensity to become one of the major meteor showers of the year, the agency said.

The year closes out with the Ursid meteor shower, which runs Dec. 17-26 and peaks Dec. 22-23. The moon will still be bright at about 54 percent illumination, and that may interfere with viewing after midnight until dawn. At their peak, the Ursids produce about five or 10 shooting stars an hour. The shower is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 8P/Tuttle, discovered in 1790.

Shooting star seekers, take note: 2025 starts with another stunner, the prolific Quadrantids, which under perfect conditions can produce as many as 200 meteors an hour at their Jan. 4 peak. The shower runs Dec. 26-Jan. 16.

Most meteor showers have a two-day peak, but the peak of the Quadrantids is only a few hours, according to NASA, which calls it “one of the best annual meteor showers.” The Quadrantids are rich in bright fireballs, larger explosions of light and color that can persist longer than an average meteor streak.

• Related: 2024 Guide To Meteor Showers, Full Moons And More

How To See Venus, Jupiter And Saturn

Early in December, keep your eyes peeled for a parade of planets. Venus, the brightest of the planets visible in December, will be visible in the evening sky through about Dec. 14.

Jupiter reaches opposition with the moon at 3:19 p.m. EST on Dec 7. Under perfect conditions, it should be easy enough to see with the naked eye, but a telescope or a good pair of binoculars may reveal Jupiter’s four bright moons as they noticeably shift positions in the course of an evening.

Saturn, along with Jupiter, will continue to shift westward in the evening sky. Saturn’s rings and its moon should be visible through a telescope as well.

The planet will remain visible through the end of year and early 2025, until it disappears in February.

Stay Alert For Aurora Borealis

The chances of seeing the northern lights are waning

Scientists say that Solar Cycle 25 reached solar maximum in October, meaning the chances of seeing the ethereal aurora borealis may be more fleeting in the coming months. Solar maximum is the peak in the sun’s 11-year cycle when more solar storms and strong coronal mass ejections increase, increasing the chances the aurora will dip below its usual Arctic range.

Both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center say the chances of seeing the northern lights will be greatly decreased by mid-2025.

• Related: After Solar Maximum, What Are The Chances Of Seeing Northern Lights?

The Space Weather Prediction Center’s aurora map is a good resource to keep in mind if you’re hoping to see the northern lights.