Night Sky for December 2024: Bright Planets and the Geminid Meteor Shower

Sky Watch December 2024

by Bob Berman, as featured in The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Planets on Parade

Venus will be a dazzling evening star (5:00–6:30 P.M.) with a –4.2 magnitude during the early days of the month.

Jupiter floats below the Moon on the 6th and is in opposition on the morning of the 7th, as it will create a conjunction with the Moon. Learn more about this planetary giant! Now, at its brightest of the year, it will rise around 9:30 P.M., hovering close to the nearly full Moon on the 14th.

This month is also a great time to catch a peek at Mercury. On the 6th, look for the tiny planet low in the southeast at dawn, after which it remains visible until the 15th. On the 28th, Mercury hovers to the left of the crescent Moon around dawn.

The Geminid Meteor Shower: December 13

Tonight brings one of our favorite meteor showers: the Geminds! Many observers can easily spot 50 or more meteors per hour in perfect moonless, dark conditions. On an optimum night for the Geminids in rural areas, it is possible to see up to 100 meteors per hour. 

Unfortunately, this year, a nearly full Moon will mar the show. For the best chances, be sure to look up before the Moon rises at about 1:00 A.M.

Here is more information about viewing the famous Geminid Meteor Shower.

Full Cold Moon: December 15

December’s Cold Moon reaches peak illumination on December 15, 2024, at 4:02 P.M. EST! This winter moon is named for the frigid conditions of this time of year when cold weather truly begins to grip us. See our December Full Moon Guide for more details. 

The First Day of Winter (The Winter Solstice)

Winter in the Northern Hemisphere begins with the solstice on December 21, 2024, at 4:21 A.M. EST. The winter solstice marks the beginning of the astronomical winter season in the Northern Hemisphere and is the day with the fewest hours of daylight in the year. Read more about the winter solstice.

Stars on the Move

Look up and see that the stars are in constant motion as they rotate around the North Star! Learn more about this exciting phenomenon and see a Map of the December Night Sky.