December astronomy: Space events to observe during the darkest month

Geminids meteor shower

Shyam Balaji said: “The Geminids meteor shower peaks on the evening of Friday 13 December. They are caused by debris from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Unlike most meteor showers, which originate from comets, the Geminids come from this rocky asteroid.

“The Geminids are known for their vivid colours. These are due to the presence of various metals in the meteoroids, such as sodium and calcium. These elements burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, creating bright and colourful streaks.

“The best time to view the Geminid meteor shower is around 2am local time when the radiant point is highest in the sky. However, you can start watching from mid-evening onwards. Look towards the constellation Gemini, which is where the meteors appear to originate. The radiant point is near the bright star Castor in Gemini.”

Ursids meteor shower

“Peaking 23 December, the Ursids meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet 8P/Tuttle. As the Earth passes through the trail of debris left by this comet, the particles enter our atmosphere and burn up, creating the meteor shower.

“The Ursids are generally a sparse meteor shower, producing about 5-10 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. However, it has had notable outbursts in the past, such as in 1945 and 1986, when up to 100 meteors per hour were observed. This unpredictability keeps skywatchers interested.

“The best time to view the Ursids is during the predawn hours on the night of December 22-23. Since the shower occurs around the winter solstice, you'll have long nights and plenty of dark skies to enhance visibility.”

“To spot the meteors, look towards the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper), near the star Kochab. This is where the meteors appear to radiate from. However, meteors can be seen all over the sky, so it's best to find a wide-open space and scan the sky.”

Best locations in the UK to see meteor showers

Shyam advises for the best viewing experience in the UK is to find a dark location away from city lights. Some recommended spots include:

• Northumberland National Park: Known for its dark skies
• Brecon Beacons National Park: Another excellent dark sky location
• Exmoor National Park: Offers great visibility with minimal light pollution
• Cairngorms National Park: A remote location with excellent dark skies

Best spots to stargaze in London

Even the city can provide spots to glimpse meteors, according to Shyam. He suggests the following for those in the capital hoping to view the meteor showers:

• Morden Hall Park
• Primrose Hill
• Greenwich Park
• South Downs National Park

The winter solstice

“The winter solstice, also known as the longest night, occurs on 21 December, at 9:20am UTC. The solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This means that the amount of daylight is at its minimum, and the night is at its longest. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the longest day and shortest night of the year.

“The word "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol" sun and "sistere" (to stand still). It refers to the point where the Sun's apparent movement north or south pauses before reversing direction.

“The solstice occurs because the Earth is tilted on its axis by about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. During the December solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted the farthest away from the Sun, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year for that hemisphere.

“The length of the shortest day varies depending on your location. For example, in London, the shortest day lasts about 7 hours, 49 minutes, and 42 seconds. The exact duration will differ based on how far north or south you are from the equator.”

“After the December solstice, the days start to get longer in the Northern Hemisphere.”