Top Tips for Seeing the Northern Lights on your Holiday
December 22, 2025
As winter nights lengthen and the skies grow darker, December offers excellent conditions for observing some of the year’s most impressive astronomical events. From a Supermoon and a major meteor shower to the brightest stars in the evening sky, December is an incredible month for stargazing.
December Full Cold Supermoon – Peak December 5
The Full Cold Moon of December 2025 will rise on the 5th and will be the last Full Moon of the year. Traditionally named for the onset of winter’s coldest temperatures, Its high winter placement in Taurus makes it ideal for observing surface details with binoculars or a telescope.
Full Moon – Rino Adamo
Geminid Meteor Shower – Peak December 13-14
The Geminids, widely regarded as the most reliable meteor shower of the year, reach their peak on the night of December 13-14. Under dark, clear skies observers may see up to 120 meteors per hour. This year’s thin crescent Moon won’t rise until the early hours, ensuring minimal interference. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini, but they can be seen across the entire sky. Allow your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the darkness for the best viewing experience.
Meteor, Marek Piwnicki
Ursid Meteor Shower – Peak December 21-22
A smaller but enjoyable shower, the Ursids peak on December 21-22. Typically producing 5–10 meteors per hour, the Ursids benefit from excellent viewing conditions in 2025 thanks to the near-New Moon. This shower radiates from the constellation Ursa Minor and is best observed in the early morning hours. For this meteor shower dark and non light polluted skies are essential.
Meteor, Riste Spiroski
New Moon – December 20
The New Moon on December 20 provides several nights of exceptionally dark skies, ideal for observing faint deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Winter constellations including Orion, Taurus, and Auriga will dominate the evening sky aswell as the brightest star in the sky, Sirius ehich is located to the lower left of Orion.
New Moon, Frank Cone
Planetary Viewing – Whole Month
Jupiter and Saturn will be sitting in the southern skies in December and are spectacular to observe through a telescope. Saturn starts to set early midway through the month. So, be sure not to miss the most beautiful planet in our solar system in the first few weeks of December.
December 2025 is an excellent month for night-sky observation, offering strong meteor activity, dark-sky conditions, and seasonal constellations at their finest. Clear skies and happy observing.
Planetary Viewing – NASAJPL-CaltechSpace Science Institute
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