In this guide we'll reveal what you can see in the night sky tonight, and throughout the month.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky tonight, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight.
Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT
We also use RA (Right ascension)and dec. (declination).
These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’.
For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
If you're south of the equator, find out what you can see in the Southern Hemisphere night sky tonight.
What's in the night sky tonight?
December astronomy highlights
- 6 December: Titan shadow transit on Saturn from 18:32 UT (pm)
- 7 December: Jupiter reaches opposition in Taurus
- 8/9 December: Excellent Ganymede shadow transit on Jupiter from 22:30 UT
- 18 December: Daylight lunar occultation of Mars (am)
- 22 December: Ursid meteor shower peak (am)
Planets
In stark contrast to the beginning of the year, all main planets are now well-presented, even Mercury in the morning sky at the end of December.
Jupiter reaches opposition on 7 December and appears to shine at mag. –2.7 among the stars of Taurus, the Bull.
At opposition its four largest moons appear to cross the planet’s disc in sync with their shadows.
A good example occurs on the night of 8 December into the morning of 9 December (22:30 UT - 00:54 UT) when Ganymede appears to touch its own shadow as it transits Jupiter’s disc.
Another impressive event occurs on 18 December. Mars is now bright and prominent in the night sky ahead of its own opposition towards the end of January 2025.
Shining at mag. –0.9 in the early hours of 18 December, a 90%-lit waning crescent Moon appears to approach the planet as dawn arrives.
Later, after sunrise a rare lunar occultation of Mars occurs which, despite it being daylight, should still be observable thanks to the planet’s elevated brightness.
Geminids
The full Moon on 15 December spells bad news for the rich Geminid meteor shower.
Predicted to reach maximum activity at 02:00 UT on 14 December, the entire night of 13/14 December will have a virtually full Moon riding high across the night sky from dusk until dawn, severely diminishing the number of Geminids seen.
The lower rate Ursid meteor shower is predicted to peak at 10:00 UT on 22 December, but even this can’t escape the poorly timed last quarter Moon, which will interfere with the optimum period in the early hours of the 22nd.
Stars and constellations
The long December night offers some excellent stars and constellations to explore. We’ve now come full circle in terms of what’s visible.
Orion, the Hunter is appearing centre stage once again. The winter Milky Way flows north-south to the east of Orion, a shadow of its bright summer counterpart.
This is because here we are looking away from our Galaxy’s core. Despite this, there are plenty of ‘local’ deep sky objects in this region to explore.
Follow the line of Orion’s Belt southeast to bright Sirius (Alpha (α) Canis Majoris), the Dog Star.
Head northeast (up and left from the UK) from Sirius to another bright star with little around it.
This is Procyon (Alpha (α) Canis Minoris) the brightest star in Canis Minor, the Little Dog.
Join the dots between Procyon, Sirius and Betelgeuse (Alpha (α) Orionis) in Orion’s northeast corner to find the Winter Triangle asterism.
The winter Milky Way flows through the Winter Triangle, a space occupied by the dim constellation Monoceros, the Unicorn.
Here lie many deep sky wonders including the Rosette Nebula, the Cone Nebula and, fittingly for this time of year, the Christmas Tree Cluster – both of the latter are confusingly designated NGC 2264.
As Sirius moves into its highest position due south, look south of the star for open cluster M41.
Sirius is so bright because it’s close at a distance of 8.6 lightyears – its light passing through the turbulent atmosphere close to the horizon, causing it to flicker and flash bright colours.
Night sky in December 2024, night-by-night
Sunday 1 December
Excellent transits of Jupiter today by Ganymede and its shadow from 18:30 until 19:26 UT.
Shining at mag. –0.5, Mars sits 2° from the centre of the Beehive Cluster, M44.
Monday 2 December
Mars occults ninth-magnitude star TYC-1398-00878-1 at 22:22 UT.
Tuesday 3 December
Appearing close to one another, Io and its shadow transit Jupiter’s disc between 20:30 and 22:46 UT.
Wednesday 4 December
At 05:30 UT, Callisto is 8 arcseconds from Jupiter’s southern limb with a mag. +11.7 star 2 arcseconds from Callisto. Callisto is 5 arcseconds from Jupiter’s southern limb at 06:30 UT.
Friday 6 December
An opportunity to observe Titan’s shadow transit Saturn at 18:32–22:30 UT.
Mars changes direction from prograde (moving eastward) to retrograde (moving westward) against the background stars.
Saturday 7 December
Jupiter reaches opposition.
As they approach setting this evening, the 41%-lit waxing crescent Moon and Saturn are fractionally less than 7° apart.
Sunday 8 December
This evening, the first quarter Moon and Saturn appear 5° apart as darkness falls.
Ganymede and its touching shadow cross Jupiter at 22:30–00:54 UT. Io and its shadow follow suit at 03:56–06:08 UT on 9 December.
Tuesday 10 December
Dione’s shadow transits Saturn at 15:21–18:35 UT.
The Jewelled Handle lunar clair-obscur effect is visible early evening as the lunar dawn light hits the Montes Jura mountain range.
Wednesday 11 December
Jupiter occults a mag. +10.8 star, the star disappearing at 18:22 UT and reappearing at 20:25 UT.
Saturday 14 December
Peak of the annual Geminid Meteor shower, unfavourable due to interference from the Moon
The virtually full Moon lies 4.6° north of Jupiter as darkness falls.
Monday 16 December
Ganymede and its shadow transit Jupiter between 01:42 and 04:55 UT.
Rhea’s shadow transits Saturn between 15:37 and 19:21 UT, the event starting in daylight.
Wednesday 18 December
The lunar occultation of Mars happens this morning. Mag. –0.9 Mars disappears behind the 89%-lit waning gibbous Moon between 09:24 and 10:15 UT. Times will vary slightly with location.
Saturday 21 December
The Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice is reached at 09:19 UT today, representing the instant in time when the Sun is at its most southerly declination.
Sunday 22 December
Peak of the Ursid meteor shower, best before the 58%-lit waning gibbous Moon rises around 23:00 UT.
Titan’s shadow transits Saturn between 17:36 and 21:55 UT.
Wednesday 25 December
Mercury reaches greatest western elongation (22.0°), shining at mag. –0.3 and visible above the southeast horizon in the dawn twilight.
Rhea’s shadow transits Saturn between 16:34 and 20:17 UT.
Sunday 29 December
At 02:30 UT, Callisto sits 4 arcseconds north of Jupiter’s north pole.
From the UK, Dione’s shadow transits Saturn from 19:17 UT until Saturn sets around 22:00 UT.
Share your observations and images with us, or send us your astronomy questions to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
