{ "title": "Night Sky December 2026: What to See in the US and Canada", "description": "Night sky December 2026: Geminids peak Dec 13 to 14, new moon Dec 8, solstice Dec 21, and the Cold Moon supermoon on Dec 23 in the US and Canada.", "canonicalUrl": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/night-sky-december-2026", "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "/" }, { "name": "Night Sky December 2026: What to See in the US and Canada", "url": "/night-sky-december-2026" } ], "updated": "2026-10-29", "data": { "slug": "night-sky-december-2026", "title": "Night Sky December 2026: What to See in the US and Canada", "description": "Night sky December 2026: Geminids peak Dec 13 to 14, new moon Dec 8, solstice Dec 21, and the Cold Moon supermoon on Dec 23 in the US and Canada.", "body_md": "December 2026 is a month to plan around two moon phases. A new moon on December 8 sets up the Geminids, the best meteor shower of the year, to peak under a thin crescent on the night of December 13 into December 14, and a full Cold Moon on December 23 takes over the sky just after the solstice. The headline dates: the Geminids peak December 13 to 14, the December solstice arrives December 21, the Ursids peak December 22 under a bright moon, and the Cold Moon is full the evening of December 23, [per the US Naval Observatory](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p). Below: every moon phase in Eastern time, the planets, the meteor showers, close pairings, the winter constellations, and the weekend to pick for a dark-sky trip.\n\n## December 2026 Moon Phases\n\nDaylight Saving Time ended on November 1, so every time below is Eastern Standard Time (EST). The phase moments come from the [US Naval Observatory](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p), which lists them in Universal Time; we subtracted five hours. Central is one hour earlier, Mountain two, Pacific three.\n\n| Phase | Date | Time (ET) |\n|---|---|---|\n| Third (Last) Quarter | December 1, 2026 | 1:08 a.m. |\n| New Moon | December 8, 2026 | 7:52 p.m. |\n| First Quarter | December 17, 2026 | 12:42 a.m. |\n| Full Moon (Cold Moon) | December 23, 2026 | 8:28 p.m. |\n\nThe [Farmers' Almanac](https://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-dates-and-times) lists the December full moon as the **Cold Moon**, a name tied to the start of winter, when the Moon spends a long part of the night above the horizon. Our [Cold Moon supermoon page](/events/supermoon-2026-12-23) notes that the Moon is near its closest approach to Earth this time, so it looks slightly larger and brighter than an average full moon, and it suggests watching just after moonrise, when the Moon sits low on the horizon. The full moon falls on a Wednesday evening, so the nights of December 22 and 23 are the ones to look up. Track tonight's phase or moonrise in your city on [/moon](/moon), and see [/moon-phases](/moon-phases) for the full set of names.\n\n## Planets Visible in December 2026\n\n**Venus** is the brilliant morning object all month, low in the east before sunrise and visible through December 31, [Space.com's 2026 planet guide](https://www.space.com/stargazing/what-to-expect-from-the-planets-in-2026-key-dates-and-sky-events) notes. It passed its greatest brilliancy on November 29, so it is still very bright. A thin crescent Moon sits about 7 degrees from Venus around December 5, [per Sterngucker's December guide](https://www.sterngucker.de/en/astronomical-events/night-sky-december/).\n\n**Mercury** is on its way out. Its morning visibility continues only through about December 4, per Space.com, and [EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn/) says it slips away by mid-December. If you want one more look, try the first few mornings of the month, low in the east-southeast before sunrise.\n\n**Jupiter** and **Mars** are morning planets in Leo. Jupiter stays in Leo through the end of the year and rises earlier each week, so by late December it is up in the late evening. Mars brightens to about magnitude -0.1 by late December and rivals the star Arcturus in brightness and color, [Space.com reports](https://www.space.com/stargazing/what-to-expect-from-the-planets-in-2026-key-dates-and-sky-events). Both climb higher toward dawn, and the Moon passes near them around December 27 and 28 (details below).\n\n**Saturn** is the evening planet, visible in the evening sky through December 31 per Space.com, and it remains the best telescope target of the month once it is dark. Sterngucker puts it about 39 degrees up in the south at 6 p.m. local time on December 24. **Uranus**, just past its November 25 opposition, is still up much of the night in Taurus and is a binocular target from a dark site. **Neptune** is an evening telescope target that sets around midnight.\n\n## Geminids and Ursids: Two Meteor Showers in One Month\n\nThe **Geminids** are the shower to plan around. [EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/) gives the predicted peak as 5:44 UTC on December 14, which is 12:44 a.m. EST that night, so the best viewing runs from the evening of December 13 through the early hours of December 14, with the highest rates around 2 a.m. local time. The theoretical maximum is about 120 meteors per hour under perfect conditions, and EarthSky says that on a dark night near the peak you can expect at least 50 per hour. The meteors seem to radiate from near the bright star Castor in Gemini, which rises in the east in mid-evening, but they show up all over the sky, so just lie back and look broadly. A waxing crescent Moon will not interfere: the [American Meteor Society](https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/) lists it at about 15 percent lit on peak night, and the first quarter Moon does not arrive until December 17. Our [Geminid Meteor Shower 2026](/geminid-meteor-shower-2026) page is the full guide, with the peak-night timeline, gear list and viewing map, and the site's [Geminids 2026 event page](/events/meteor-geminids-2026) has the date at a glance. All showers are listed on [/meteor-showers](/meteor-showers).\n\nThe **Ursids** are the quiet cousin. EarthSky lists the predicted peak at 20:59 UTC on December 22, which is 3:59 p.m. EST that afternoon, so the practical window is the night of December 21 into the early hours of December 22, ideally before sunrise. Rates are usually 5 to 10 meteors per hour, with rare bursts of around 100. This year the Moon is a bright gibbous, about 89 percent lit on the peak night per the American Meteor Society, and EarthSky expects it to hide all but the brightest Ursids. The radiant sits in the north near Kochab, a star in the Little Dipper's bowl, so face north and keep the Moon behind a building or tree if you can. See the [Ursids 2026 event page](/events/meteor-ursids-2026).\n\n## Notable Conjunctions and Close Approaches\n\n- **December 5 (before sunrise):** A thin crescent Moon about 7 degrees from Venus in the east-southeast, per [Sterngucker](https://www.sterngucker.de/en/astronomical-events/night-sky-december/).\n- **December 17 (evening):** The first quarter Moon about 8 degrees from Saturn, both high in the south, per Sterngucker.\n- **December 21 (3:30 p.m. EST):** The December solstice, the astronomical start of winter, at 20:30 UTC, [per EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice/). See the [December Solstice 2026 event page](/events/season-2026-12-solstice).\n- **December 27 and 28 (morning):** The waning Moon passes about 7 degrees from Jupiter on the 27th and about 7 degrees from Mars on the 28th, per Sterngucker.\n\nThe dates for Moon pairings are based on a European calendar, so allow for a day's difference in North America and check the exact angle in a planetarium app on the day.\n\n## Constellations High in December Evenings\n\nDecember evenings belong to the winter sky. Orion rises in the early evening and climbs highest around midnight, with the Orion Nebula (M42) hanging below his belt, [Sterngucker's guide](https://www.sterngucker.de/en/astronomical-events/night-sky-december/) says. Around Orion sits the Winter Hexagon of bright stars: Sirius, Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux and Procyon. Taurus with the Pleiades is high in the southeast, Auriga and Gemini are climbing in the east, and Sirius clears the horizon in mid-evening. Pegasus and Andromeda are still in the west early in the evening, so the fall sky overlaps with the winter one for the first couple of hours. Sterngucker names December 5 to 15 as the best deep-sky window, between the new moon and the full moon. See our [/constellations](/constellations) guide for each season's patterns, and [/stargazing-for-beginners](/stargazing-for-beginners) if you want a gentle start.\n\n## Aurora Outlook for December 2026\n\nNOAA's forecasting panel put the peak of Solar Cycle 25 around July 2025, give or take eight months, [according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center](https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-forecast-update), so December falls after the predicted maximum. Storms can still happen, and December gives northern states and Canada their longest nights of the year to catch one. Nobody can name a storm date weeks in advance, so check the [SWPC aurora dashboard](https://www.spaceweather.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental) a few days before you go, and see our [/northern-lights](/northern-lights) guide for where to look and what to pack.\n\n## Best New-Moon Weekend for a Dark-Sky Trip\n\nPick **Friday to Sunday, December 11 to 13**. The new moon falls at 7:52 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, December 8, per the [US Naval Observatory](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p), so by that weekend the Moon is only a thin crescent that sets early in the evening, leaving most of the night dark. Sunday night, December 13, is the Geminid peak night, which means you can pair the darkest stretch of the month with the strongest meteor shower of the year, [per EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/). If weather blocks Sunday, Saturday night still delivers a good rate. Use our [/plan](/plan) tool to line this up with a trip near you, or browse certified sites on [/dark-sky-parks](/dark-sky-parks). A backup: the weekend of December 4 to 6 has a waning crescent that rises before dawn, which is darker than average but without the meteor bonus.\n\n## Week-by-Week: December 2026 at a Glance\n\n| Week | Dates | What's Happening |\n|---|---|---|\n| 1 | Dec 1 to 6 | Third Quarter Moon (Dec 1); last mornings for Mercury (through about Dec 4); crescent Moon near Venus (Dec 5) |\n| 2 | Dec 7 to 13 | New Moon (Dec 8); best deep-sky nights of the month; Geminids build toward the peak, best the night of Dec 13 |\n| 3 | Dec 14 to 20 | Geminid peak just after midnight (Dec 14, 12:44 a.m. EST); First Quarter Moon (Dec 17); Moon near Saturn (Dec 17) |\n| 4 | Dec 21 to 27 | Solstice (Dec 21, 3:30 p.m. EST); Ursids (night of Dec 21 to 22, bright Moon); full Cold Moon (Dec 23, 8:28 p.m. EST); Moon near Jupiter (Dec 27) |\n| 5 | Dec 28 to 31 | Moon near Mars (Dec 28); Third Quarter Moon (Dec 30); Mars and Jupiter both climbing in the morning sky |\n\nFor the other events on the calendar, see [/events](/events).\n\n## Quick Answers\n\n**When do the Geminids peak in 2026?**\nThe Geminids peak the night of December 13 into December 14, with the predicted maximum at 12:44 a.m. EST on December 14. The best rates come around 2 a.m. local time under a thin crescent Moon, [according to EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/). See our [Geminid Meteor Shower 2026](/geminid-meteor-shower-2026) guide.\n\n**When is the full moon in December 2026?**\nThe full Cold Moon occurs at 8:28 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, per the [Farmers' Almanac](https://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-dates-and-times) and the [US Naval Observatory](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p). See [/moon-phases](/moon-phases).\n\n**When is the winter solstice in 2026?**\nThe December solstice arrives on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 20:30 UTC, which is 3:30 p.m. EST, per [EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice/). It is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.\n\n**Will the Moon ruin the Ursids in 2026?**\nMostly, yes. The Ursids peak around December 21 to 22 with a bright gibbous Moon about 89 percent lit, which hides all but the brightest meteors, per the [American Meteor Society](https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/) and [EarthSky](https://www.earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/ursid-meteor-shower/). Try before dawn, facing north.\n\n**What is the best weekend to stargaze in December 2026?**\nDecember 11 to 13. The new moon on December 8 leaves only a thin crescent that sets early, and Sunday night, December 13, is the Geminid peak night, per the [US Naval Observatory](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p) and EarthSky. Plan it with our [/plan](/plan) tool.\n\n**Which planets can I see in December 2026?**\nVenus is bright in the morning sky all month, Mars and Jupiter are morning planets in Leo, Saturn is up in the evening, and Mercury is gone by about December 4, per [Space.com](https://www.space.com/stargazing/what-to-expect-from-the-planets-in-2026-key-dates-and-sky-events) and [EarthSky](https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn/).\n", "hero_image": "/images/constellations.webp", "category": "events", "published_at": "2026-10-29", "updated_at": "2026-10-29", "sources_json": "[{\"title\":\"Moon Phases and Percentages of the Moon's Illumination - US Naval Observatory\",\"url\":\"https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p\"},{\"title\":\"Full Moon Dates and Times - Farmers' Almanac\",\"url\":\"https://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-dates-and-times\"},{\"title\":\"What to Expect From the Planets in 2026 - Space.com\",\"url\":\"https://www.space.com/stargazing/what-to-expect-from-the-planets-in-2026-key-dates-and-sky-events\"},{\"title\":\"Visible Planets Tonight: See Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn - EarthSky\",\"url\":\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn/\"},{\"title\":\"Geminid Meteor Shower: All You Need to Know - EarthSky\",\"url\":\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/\"},{\"title\":\"Ursid Meteor Shower - EarthSky\",\"url\":\"https://www.earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/ursid-meteor-shower/\"},{\"title\":\"December Solstice 2026 - EarthSky\",\"url\":\"https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice/\"},{\"title\":\"Meteor Shower Calendar - American Meteor Society\",\"url\":\"https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/\"},{\"title\":\"Night Sky in December 2026 - Sterngucker\",\"url\":\"https://www.sterngucker.de/en/astronomical-events/night-sky-december/\"},{\"title\":\"Solar Cycle 25 Forecast Update - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center\",\"url\":\"https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-forecast-update\"},{\"title\":\"Aurora Dashboard - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center\",\"url\":\"https://www.spaceweather.gov/communities/aurora-dashboard-experimental\"}]", "hero_alt": "A flat travel-poster illustration of a clear winter night sky filled with stars and constellation line patterns above snowy hills and evergreen trees.", "faq_json": "[{\"q\":\"When do the Geminids peak in 2026?\",\"a\":\"The Geminids peak the night of December 13 into December 14, with the predicted maximum at 12:44 a.m. EST on December 14. The best rates come around 2 a.m. local time under a thin crescent Moon, according to EarthSky.\"},{\"q\":\"When is the full moon in December 2026?\",\"a\":\"The full Cold Moon occurs at 8:28 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, per the Farmers' Almanac and the US Naval Observatory.\"},{\"q\":\"When is the winter solstice in 2026?\",\"a\":\"The December solstice arrives on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 20:30 UTC, which is 3:30 p.m. EST, per EarthSky. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.\"},{\"q\":\"Will the Moon ruin the Ursids in 2026?\",\"a\":\"Mostly, yes. The Ursids peak around December 21 to 22 with a bright gibbous Moon about 89 percent lit, which hides all but the brightest meteors, per the American Meteor Society and EarthSky. Try before dawn, facing north.\"},{\"q\":\"What is the best weekend to stargaze in December 2026?\",\"a\":\"December 11 to 13. The new moon on December 8 leaves only a thin crescent that sets early, and Sunday night, December 13, is the Geminid peak night, per the US Naval Observatory and EarthSky.\"},{\"q\":\"Which planets can I see in December 2026?\",\"a\":\"Venus is bright in the morning sky all month, Mars and Jupiter are morning planets in Leo, Saturn is up in the evening, and Mercury is gone by about December 4, per Space.com and EarthSky.\"}]", "sources": [ { "title": "Moon Phases and Percentages of the Moon's Illumination - US Naval Observatory", "url": "https://aa.usno.navy.mil/calculated/moon/phases?date=2026-11-01&nump=8&format=p" }, { "title": "Full Moon Dates and Times - Farmers' Almanac", "url": "https://www.farmersalmanac.com/full-moon-dates-and-times" }, { "title": "What to Expect From the Planets in 2026 - Space.com", "url": "https://www.space.com/stargazing/what-to-expect-from-the-planets-in-2026-key-dates-and-sky-events" }, { "title": "Visible Planets Tonight: See Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn - EarthSky", "url": "https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn/" }, { "title": "Geminid Meteor Shower: All You Need to Know - EarthSky", "url": "https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/" }, { "title": "Ursid Meteor Shower - EarthSky", "url": "https://www.earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/ursid-meteor-shower/" }, { "title": "December Solstice 2026 - EarthSky", "url": "https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-december-solstice/" }, { "title": "Meteor Shower Calendar - American Meteor Society", "url": "https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/" }, { "title": "Night Sky in December 2026 - Sterngucker", "url": "https://www.sterngucker.de/en/astronomical-events/night-sky-december/" }, { "title": "Solar Cycle 25 Forecast Update - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center", "url": "https://www.spaceweather.gov/news/solar-cycle-25-forecast-update" }, { "title": "Aurora Dashboard - 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The best rates come around 2 a.m. local time under a thin crescent Moon, according to EarthSky. See our Geminid Meteor Shower 2026 guide." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is the full moon in December 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The full Cold Moon occurs at 8:28 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 23, 2026, per the Farmers' Almanac and the US Naval Observatory. See /moon-phases." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is the winter solstice in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The December solstice arrives on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 20:30 UTC, which is 3:30 p.m. EST, per EarthSky. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will the Moon ruin the Ursids in 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Mostly, yes. The Ursids peak around December 21 to 22 with a bright gibbous Moon about 89 percent lit, which hides all but the brightest meteors, per the American Meteor Society and EarthSky. Try before dawn, facing north." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the best weekend to stargaze in December 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "December 11 to 13. The new moon on December 8 leaves only a thin crescent that sets early, and Sunday night, December 13, is the Geminid peak night, per the US Naval Observatory and EarthSky. Plan it with our /plan tool." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which planets can I see in December 2026?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Venus is bright in the morning sky all month, Mars and Jupiter are morning planets in Leo, Saturn is up in the evening, and Mercury is gone by about December 4, per Space.com and EarthSky." } } ] } ] } }