What's Up: December 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA

December's night sky offers a variety of celestial events, including bright planets like Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, as well as the prominent winter constellations. The Geminid meteor shower peaks on December 14th, but the nearly full moon may interfere with viewing fainter meteors. Winter constellations and a prominent triangle of stars, formed by Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse, are visible throughout the season.

Visible Planets and Constellations

• 00:00:05 Venus, Jupiter, and Mars are prominent in the night sky during December. Jupiter reaches opposition on December 7th, making it exceptionally bright and visible all night. The winter constellations, including Orion, Taurus, and Gemini, rise in the east during the evening, hosting celestial objects like the Crab Nebula and the Orion Nebula.

Geminid Meteor Shower

• 00:02:42 The Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak in the early morning of December 14th, known as one of the best meteor showers annually. However, the nearly full moon may diminish the visibility of fainter meteors. Bright meteors are still anticipated, with the potential to see shooting stars up to a week before the peak.