 | | Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version | | | |  It's a packed mid-December sky and this week brings one of the best meteor showers of the year, a lunar occultation of Regulus and a striking third quarter moon.
The Geminids are ramping up toward their brilliant Dec. 14 peak, while the moon slides past Leo and even covers Regulus for parts of Canada, Greenland, Iceland and northern Europe.
Meanwhile, space weather is having some time in the spotlight. We've just issued a new aurora alert with the northern lights potentially visible from 17 U.S. states tonight if conditions hold. And don't miss the dramatic footage of an X-class solar flare erupting from the sun this morning (Dec. 8).
Here's what's up this week.
Clear skies,
Daisy
Reference Editor, Space.com | |  | | (Starry Night) | | Late Tuesday night, the waning gibbous moon rises with Regulus shining just below it. They travel across the sky together, but observers in northern/eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the U.K. and Scandinavia may see Regulus disappear behind the moon. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | | The moon reaches third quarter at 3:52 p.m. EST on Dec.11. It rises around midnight and stays visible into the early afternoon. This phrase begins a week of dark evening skies, ideal for faint deep-sky viewing. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | | Perseus climbs high in the northeast, showcasing Mirfak and its surrounding cluster, Melotte 20. Around 100 young stars spread across several degrees, making this group a beautiful binocular target. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | | The Geminids peak Sunday morning with up to 120 meteors per hour. Activity begins after dark on Saturday and builds toward 2 a.m. local time. A thin crescent moon shouldn't interfere much. | | |  | | (Starry Night) | | Before dawn, look east for the waning crescent moon sitting just right of Spica. They fit neatly in binoculars, with Mercury rising below them after 6 a.m. local time. | | | | | | This week's key lunar moment is the third quarter moon, which marks the start of several nights of darker evening skies — perfect for spotting faint deep-sky targets before the moon returns. Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase. | | | | | The Geminid meteor shower peaks the night of Dec. 13-14. Our guide tells you where and how to see them. | | | | The powerful X1.1 solar flare from sunspot region 4298 sparked strong radio blackouts on the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of eruption. | | | | Auroras may be visible from Alaska to Illinois as an incoming coronal mass ejection is expected to slam into Earth. | | | | Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy captured skydiver Gabe Brown falling across the sun in this precisely planned aircraft alignment, solar altitude, and jump, resulting in the striking image "The Fall of Icarus." | | | | Astronomy Kit and Accessories | | | The best gear to help you capture the Orion Nebula, see a close-up of a 'Christmas Star' and get the best from the night sky in 2026. | | | Lightweight, portable and powerful, the Canon 10x20 IS binoculars are suitable for those who like to travel light when stargazing. | | | | Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. | |  | |  | Follow Night Sky This Week |  |  |  |  | | | | | Future US LLC © | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. | | | | |
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