December Sky to Feature Two Meteor Showers, Bright Mercury, and 'Star of Bethlehem'

Stargazers can look forward to the Geminids and Ursids meteor showers, Mercury at its brightest, the winter solstice, and the Cold Moon, while Jupiter shines all month as the 'Star of Bethlehem'.

• December is a prime time for stargazing with two meteor showers, the Geminids and Ursids, predicted to peak on December 13-14 and December 22-23 respectively.
• The planet Mercury will be at its farthest from the sun, making it brighter than most stars on December 4.
• The winter solstice, marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, will occur on December 21.
• The last full moon of the year, known as the Cold Moon, will reach its peak illumination on December 26.
• The bright planet Jupiter will be visible all night, all month, shining as the 'Star of Bethlehem'.

3 Articles

Popular Science Washington Post Forbes