The good news in December is that it gets dark nice and early allowing for long observing sessions. The bad news for those of us in the North is that the price we pay for the early evenings is the cold that accompanies it. So, fill your thermos with some nice hot coffee or hot chocolate and enjoy the wonderful winter skies.
We'll start off again this month naked eye. The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks on the 13th. This is usually one of the best meteor showers of the year and should offer excellent viewing this year as the moon is in good position (waning crescent). The Geminids will seem to radiate from a point near the stars Castor and Pollux. Castor and Pollux are to the upper right of the famed Betelgeuse in Orion. Watch this area of the sky from a dark site and you can expect to see as many as 60 - 80 meteors an hour.
Telescope Targets
December contiues to offer wonderful views of Cassiopea, Andromeda, Auriga and Perseus. See October's and November's picks pages for targets in these constellations.
The Pleiades (M45) is a wonderful low power open cluster. It is easily identified high in the Southeast early after sunset. Look for 6 stars that appear to be a miniature version of the big dipper. Point your telescope with it's lowest power eyepiece at this and you'll be shocked at how many stars are visible. They are located at a distance of 400 lightyears from us and contain 100 stars. This cluster is approximately 78 million years old.
Also in the same area of sky are the Hyades. This is one of those targets best seen with binoculaurs. The Hyades are a huge open cluster of 350 stars located at a distance of 150 Lightyears from us. The Hyades are below the Pleiades. Look for the "V" shaped grouping of stars and point your binoculaurs or your telescope toward them. The Hyades hold the distinction of being the closest open cluster to us.
Planets
Jupiter is in excellent position for viewing right after sunset positioned high in the southern sky.
Saturn is also in great position for viewing in the Southeast in the early evening. Show some family or friends this superstar of the sky.
Well, that's about it for this month. Orion is rising in the south and will offer lots of targets for late evening this month also. I will detail these in January's picks.
Clear skies and good hunting!