Heads up, stargazers! December usually brings a celestial fireworks show, but 2025 throws a wrench in the works – a full moon threatens to steal the spotlight! But don't despair completely! Despite the lunar interference, there are still opportunities to catch some shooting stars. Let's dive into what you can expect in the meteor activity between December 6th and 12th, 2025, and how to make the most of it.
Usually, the first half of December is prime time for meteor watching, offering some of the year's most impressive displays. However, in 2025, a full moon coinciding with this period will significantly reduce the number of visible meteors. Think of it like trying to see faint stars in broad daylight – the bright moonlight washes out the dimmer meteors.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some seasoned observers actually enjoy the challenge of spotting meteors under less-than-ideal conditions. It forces you to become more attuned to the subtle streaks of light and to appreciate the ones you do see even more. Are you up for the challenge?
Thankfully, the Geminid meteor shower, known for its spectacular displays and peaking around December 13th/14th, arrives just as the moon retreats from the late morning sky. Lunar interference should be minimal by then. And the Ursid meteor shower, peaking later in the month, will grace us with its presence under completely moonless skies! Plus, a steady stream of sporadic meteors will continue throughout December, offering additional chances for sightings.
During this period, the Moon reaches its Last Quarter phase on Thursday, December 11th. At this time, it will be positioned at a 90-degree angle west of the sun, rising around midnight local standard time (LST). This weekend, the waning gibbous moon will rise during the early evening hours, providing a brief window of opportunity to observe meteor activity under darker skies between dusk and moonrise.
So, how many meteors can you realistically expect to see?
For evening observers this weekend, expect approximately 3 meteors per hour from mid-northern latitudes (around 45°N) and about 2 per hour from tropical southern locations (around 25°S). Morning observers should see slightly more, with estimated rates of around 14 per hour from mid-northern latitudes and 8 per hour from tropical southern locations. Remember, these rates are reduced due to the presence of the moon!
And this is the part most people miss... These are just estimates. The actual number of meteors you see depends on several factors, including your eyesight, how well you can detect faint motion, the local weather conditions (clear skies are a must!), your level of alertness, and your experience in observing meteors. Also, the hourly rates are based on observations from dark-sky locations, far from city lights. If you're in an urban area, the bright lights will drown out the fainter meteors.
Finding the Source: Understanding Radiants
The radiant is the point in the sky from which meteors appear to originate. Think of it like standing on a straight road; the road seems to converge to a single point in the distance. Similarly, meteors belonging to a particular shower appear to radiate from a specific point in the sky.
The radiant positions provided below are accurate for Saturday night/Sunday morning, December 6/7, 2025. While these positions don't change dramatically from day to day, you can use the listed coordinates throughout the week. You can find maps showing celestial coordinate grids in most star atlases (available online, in bookstores, and at planetariums), which will help you locate these radiant positions in the sky.
I've also included sky charts showing the radiant positions for evening, midnight, and morning. Each chart is centered on the sky directly overhead at that time. These charts are oriented for viewing south, but you can rotate them to match any direction. A planisphere or planetarium app is also a handy tool for displaying the night sky at any time and date.
To maximize your chances of seeing meteors from a specific radiant, observe when it is highest in the sky (culmination). This will be either due north or south along the meridian, depending on your latitude. Radiants that rise after midnight won't reach their highest point until daylight, so it's best to observe them during the last few hours of the night.
Important Tip: Don't stare directly at the radiant! Meteors actually shoot outward from the radiant, so it's best to position your field of view so that the radiant is near the edge, not the center. This allows you to trace the paths of the meteors back to the radiant (if they belong to a shower) or determine if they're sporadic. Also, you won't see any meteors from radiants located far below the horizon.
The radiant positions listed below are in west-to-east order by right ascension (celestial longitude). This means the positions listed first are located farther west and are visible earlier in the night, while those listed later rise later.
Here's a breakdown of the meteor showers expected to be active this week:
Now that the Taurid showers are over, we're focusing on the Anthelion (ANT) radiant. Now, this is interesting... The Anthelion isn't a "true" radiant in the same way as other meteor showers. Instead, it's caused by the Earth's motion through space. As our planet orbits the sun, it encounters particles orbiting in the same direction that are approaching their closest point to the sun (perihelion). These particles appear to radiate from an area near the point opposite the sun in the sky, hence the name Anthelion. Historically, these were recorded as separate showers, but now they're grouped into a category separate from true showers and sporadic meteors. The Anthelion radiant is a large oval, about 30 degrees wide by 15 degrees high, and activity can appear from multiple constellations. The center of the radiant is currently located at 05:48 (087) +23, in eastern Taurus, near the star Tianguan (zeta Tauri A). It's best viewed around 01:00 LST, when it's highest in the southern sky. Expect about 2 meteors per hour from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour from south of the equator. With a relatively slow entry velocity of 30 km/sec, Anthelion meteors appear medium-slow.
The Monocerotids (MON) are active from November 23rd to December 24th, peaking around December 10th. The radiant is at 06:36 (099) +09, in northwestern Monoceros, near the star Alzirr (xi Geminorum). It's best viewed around 02:00 LST in the southern sky. Expect about 1 meteor per hour, regardless of your location. With an entry velocity of 41 km/sec, most Monocerotid meteors are of medium speed.
The Geminids (GEM) are active from December 1st to December 24th, peaking on the night of December 13th/14th. The radiant is at 07:00 (105) +33, in northwestern Gemini, near the star theta Geminorum. It's best viewed around 02:00 LST in the northern sky. Expect about 3 meteors per hour from the northern hemisphere and 1 per hour from south of the equator. Geminids are relatively slow, with an entry velocity of 35 km/sec.
The sigma Hydrids (HYD) are active from November 22nd to December 31st, peaking around December 7th. The radiant is at 08:12 (123) +03, in western Hydra, near the star Procyon (alpha Canis Minoris A). It's best viewed around 03:00 LST in the southern sky. Expect about 1 meteor per hour, regardless of your location. Sigma Hydrids are fast, with an entry velocity of 58 km/sec.
The Comae Berenicids (COM) are a long-duration shower, active from December 5th to February 4th, peaking around December 19th. The radiant is at 10:00 (150) +37, in central Leo Minor, near the star 21 Leonis Minoris. They're best viewed around 05:00 LST in the southern sky. Expect less than 1 meteor per hour, regardless of your location. Comae Berenicids are fast, with an entry velocity of 63 km/sec.
Sporadic meteors are those that don't belong to any known meteor shower. Over time, meteor showers evolve and disperse until they're no longer recognizable. When we're not seeing the peak of a major shower, sporadic meteors make up most of the activity we see.
From a rural site in the mid-northern hemisphere (45°N), expect about 6 sporadic meteors per hour in the hour before dawn, and about 3 per hour in the evening. From tropical southern latitudes (25°S), expect about 4 per hour in the morning and 2 per hour in the evening. Locations in between will see rates between these figures. Moonlight reduces both morning and late evening rates.
Here's a handy table summarizing the active showers:
| SHOWER | DATE OF MAXIMUM ACTIVITY | CELESTIAL POSITION (RA, DEC) | ENTRY VELOCITY (km/sec) | CULMINATION (LST) | HOURLY RATE (North-South) | CLASS |
|--------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------|---------------------|---------------------------|-------|
| Anthelion (ANT) | - | 05:48 (087), +23 | 30 | 01:00 | 2 - 1 | II |
| Monocerotids (MON) | Dec 09 | 06:36 (099), +09 | 41 | 02:00 | 1 - 1 | II |
| Geminids (GEM) | Dec 14 | 07:00 (105), +33 | 35 | 02:00 | 3 - 1 | I |
| sigma Hydrids (HYD)| Dec 09 | 08:12 (123), +03 | 58 | 03:00 | 1 - 1 | II |
| Comae Berenicids (COM)| Dec 16 | 10:00 (150), +37 | 64 | 05:00 | <1 - <1 | II |
Class Explanation (Meteor Shower Intensity):
- Class I: Strongest annual showers with Zenith Hourly Rates (ZHR) typically 10 or higher.
- Class II: Reliable minor showers with ZHRs typically between 2 and 10.
- Class III: Showers that don't provide annual activity, but can produce major displays occasionally.
- Class IV: Weak minor showers with ZHRs rarely exceeding 2. Best studied by experienced observers using plotting and angular velocity estimates. Good targets for video and photographic work. Less experienced observers should focus on showers rated I to III.
So, while the full moon might make things a bit more challenging this December, there are still opportunities to witness the beauty of meteor showers. Grab a blanket, find a dark spot, and look up!
Now it's your turn! Do you think the challenge of observing meteors under a full moon adds to the excitement, or does it just make it frustrating? What are your favorite tips for spotting meteors? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
