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Your guide to constellations, deep-sky objects,

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planets, and events,

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Tonight's Sky, highlights of the December Sky

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Two prominent constellations in the December night sky

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represent notable individuals of

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ancient Greek mythology.

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The great hero Perseus holds the head of Medusa

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the Gorgon.

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Located in Perseus is M34, an open star cluster

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about 1,400 light-years away from us.

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Open star clusters are groups of young stars

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that all formed at the same time

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within a large cloud of dust and gas.

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Look for it with the naked eye

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or with binoculars in a dark sky.

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Queen Cassiopeia was punished for her conceit

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and vanity by being tied to her throne.

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Cassiopeia’s “M” or “W” shape

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makes this constellation easy to identify.

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Eta Cassiopeiae is a wonderful and colorful

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double star. Use binoculars or a small telescope

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to discern its gold and blue hues.

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M103 in Cassiopeia is a fine open star cluster

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with a prominent red star near the center.

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Its fan shape is evident in binoculars.

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Lying between Cassiopeia and Perseus

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is the lovely Double Cluster.

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This pair of open star clusters is easy to see

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with binoculars.

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The Double Cluster resembles a handful of diamonds

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scattered on black velvet, with a ruby in between.

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Mars and Jupiter ascend into the southeastern sky

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well before the Sun appears.

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Aim a telescope at the planets to get a better look

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at their features.

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Late in the month, dim Mercury peeks above

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the horizon just before dawn.

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If you have a telescope that’s powerful enough,

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you might be able to identify the small planet’s phase.

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The mid-December night sky hosts the lovely

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Geminid meteor shower.

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The shower peaks on the night of December 13th

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to the 14th.

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Under a dark sky, you could see as many as 60

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colorful meteors per hour.