Woking Planetarium

Read our December sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Orion is a bright winter constellation. It rises around sunset and moves across the southern sky, before it sets in the west at dawn. At the beginning of the month, it rises a few hours after sunset, but appears earlier as the month continues. By the end of the month, it is visible all night.

Perseus appears in the north eastern sky at sunset. As the month goes on, it appears further east until by the end of the month it appears due east. Perseus moves across the zenith during the night, disappearing in the north west at dawn.

Pisces can be best seen in the early evening, as it appears high in the sky when the Sun sets. You can find it in the south east, moving across the southern sky to set in the west a couple of hours after midnight. As the month goes on, it appears higher in the sky, so best views will be at the end of the month.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Venus is visible on the south eastern horizon in the morning sky, getting lower as the month continues. This means that the best time to see it is at the beginning of the month just before dawn. Venus will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 9^th.

Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Jupiter can be seen for most of the night. It appears in the eastern sky at sunset and moves across the southern sky to set in the west before dawn. It sets later as the month goes on, allowing it to be seen for more of the night. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 22^nd, and ends retrograde motion on the 31^st.

Saturn is best seen at the beginning of the month, as it is higher in the sky. You can find it in the south low on the horizon, but only for a couple of hours after sunset before it sets in the west. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 17^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be found close to Jupiter this month, following the same path across the southern sky. It appears in the east at sunset, and sets in the west a little before dawn.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It follows behind Saturn this month, appearing in the southern sky and moving lower to set in the west over the course of the night. Neptune ends retrograde motion on the 6th, and undergoes lunar occultation on the 19^th.

Meteor Showers

The φ-Cassiopeids reach their peak on the 6^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Andromeda. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best views are likely to be around 21:00 GMT, when Andromeda is highest in the sky.

The Monocerotids reach their peak on the 9^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Monoceros. Meteors will be visible when this constellation is in the sky, between 18:47 and 07:12 GMT, when dawn breaks. Best displays are likely to be around 02:00 GMT, when Monoceros is highest in the sky. You will likely be able to see about 1 meteor per hour.

The σ-Hydrids reach their peak on the 12^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Hydra. Meteors will be visible when this constellation is in the sky between 20:54 and 07:15 GMT, when dawn breaks. Best displays are likely to be around 03:00 GMT, when Hydra is highest in the sky. You will likely be able to see about 1 meteor per hour.

The Geminids reach their peak on the 14^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Gemini. This constellation is in the sky all night, so meteors are visible through darkness hours. Best displays are likely to be around 02:00 GMT, when Gemini is highest in the sky. You will likely be able to see around 113 meteors per hour.

The Comae Berenicids reach their peak on the 16^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Leo. Meteors will be visible between 22:23 and 07:18 GMT, when this constellation is visible in the sky. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn, as Leo is highest in the sky after sunrise. You will likely be able to see about 2 meteors per hour.

The December Leonis Minorids reach their peak on the 20^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Leo Minor. Meteors will be visible when this constellation is in the sky, between 19:41 and 07:21 GMT. Best displays are likely to be around 05:00 GMT, when Leo Minor is highest in the sky. You will likely be able to see about 4 meteors per hour.

The Ursids reach their peak on the 23^rd. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Ursa Minor. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn, as Leo Minor is highest in the sky after sunrise. You will likely be able to see about 9 meteors per hour.

Moon

Last Quarter: 5^th

New Moon: 12^th

First Quarter: 19^th

Full Moon: 27^th

The Moon is at perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 16^th, and apogee, its furthest point from the Earth on the 4^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon is at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 13^th, and aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun on the 26^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon makes a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 24^th.

Points of Interest

The Running Man cluster is well placed on the 15^th. It will be visible between 21:04 and 03:03 GMT. Best views will be around midnight, when it is highest in the sky. You will need binoculars or a small telescope to see it.

The Orion nebula is well placed on the 15^th. It will be visible between 20:35 and 03:32 GMT, when Orion is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be around midnight, when it reaches its highest point. The Orion nebula is visible but faint to the naked eye, so you will need binoculars or a small telescope to see it.

Asteroid 4 Vesta is at opposition on the 21^st. In the constellation of Orion, it will be visible between 18:37 and 05:18 GMT. Best displays are likely to be around midnight when it is at its highest point. You will need binoculars to see this event.

Asteroid 9 Metis is at opposition on the 22^nd. It will be in the constellation of Gemini, and visible between 18:10 and 05:56 GMT. Best displays are likely to be around midnight, when Gemini is at its highest in the sky. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see this event.

Comet 62P/Tsuchinshan passes perihelion on the 25th, making it’s closest approach to the Sun. It can be seen in the morning sky after 00:10 GMT on the eastern horizon. You will need a large telescope to see this event.

Asteroid 5 Astraea is at opposition on the 28^th. In the constellation of Orion, it is visible between 18:56 and 04:56 GMT. Best displays are likely to be around midnight when Orion is at its highest point. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see this event.

The cluster NGC 2232 is well placed on the 29^th. It will be in the constellation of Monoceros and reach its highest point around midnight. Monoceros is in the sky between 20:28 and 03:26 GMT. You will need binoculars to see this event.

The Rosette nebula is well placed on the 30^th. In the constellation of Monoceros, it is visible between 19:32 and 04:23 GMT and will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. You will need binoculars to see this event.

The Winter solstice is on the 22^nd.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 9^th November.