While it may seem that some snow has been forecast for us, we can still collectively hope for clear skies. At least, hopefully at night! We have been incredibly lucky in the last month being able to see the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, this far south (relatively speaking). This month, as the weather starts feeling more boreal, we can ask “what’s up there?” as we gaze upwards.
Another super moon! On Thursday, December 4 we get another super moon! This time, the “Cold Moon.” I shouldn’t say why it’s named that, but it’s also referred to as the “Oak Moon” or the “Long Night Moon.” That will conclude 2025’s super moons, with three in total: October 7, November 5, December 4. The Pleiades cluster will often sit near the moon as well.
Mercury, ever difficult to spot due to its proximity to the Sun, about 36,000,000 miles to our 93,000,000, will reach its greatest distance from the Sun, or greatest elongation. If you’re ever able to spot it, that’ll be the time. Jupiter will also be visible for much of this month, with it and the Moon seeming to orbit together December 7.
The Geminids meteor shower will peak the night of Sunday, December 14, although meteors originating from it can be spotted throughout the first half of the month. The meteors don’t originate from a comet, the most likely culprit, but from the 3200 Phaethon asteroid. The asteroid has an orbital period of about a year-and-a-half and is referred to as an “Apollo asteroid” due to its orbit crossing Earth’s and nearing the Sun. It was only discovered in 1983!
The final new moon of the year will be on December 20. The next day, December 21, is the Winter Solstice, or the shortest day of the year.
With a longer night and a new moon, that makes the perfect opportunity for another meteor shower. The Ursid meteor shower peaks on December 22, running throughout the middle of the month. The meteors will be visible around the constellation Ursa Minor and will produce about 10~ meteors-per-hour.
On December 26, it’ll be a great time to see Saturn with the ringed behemoth sitting near the quarter moon.
Astronomy Update for December
By Sam Bishop