Today is the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. But the weather doesn't warm up right after the solstice because there's still more darkness than daylight, the Sun stays low in the sky, and the oceans and land take more time to warm.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
December 21: Winter Solstice II
December 22: Rho Cassiopeia
Like the Sun, Rho Cassiopeia is a G2 star, so both are yellow. But that's the only thing they have in common. Rho Cass is many times bigger, heavier, and brighter than the Sun. It's high in the north at dusk, to the upper left of the "M" or "W" outline of Cassiopeia.
December 23: Moon and Spica
Spica, the brightest star of the constellation Virgo, stands close to the lower left of the Moon as they climb into good view in the wee hours of tomorrow. They are a bit closer together at dawn.
December 24: Barred Spirals
NGC 1300 decorates December's night sky. It is too faint to see with the eye, but images reveal a beautiful galaxy. A bar of stars spans its middle, with stars spiraling away from the bar's ends. NGC 1300 is low in the southeast at nightfall, in Eridanus, the river.
December 25: Christmas Tree
The Christmas Tree cluster climbs into view in the east in early evening. Under dark skies it's just visible as a faint smudge of light. A telescope reveals a few of its stars and the faint glow of gas clouds. Images reveal the full beauty of the cosmic Christmas tree.
December 26: Venus in Capricornus
Capricornus is in the zodiac, so it's well known. But it's small and faint, so it's not easy to see. Now, though, Venus, the Evening Star, points the way. It is passing close to the constellation's brightest star. The rest of the sea-goat spreads out below Venus.
December 27: Moon and Companions
The Moon will pass amazingly close to the star Antares, the heart of the scorpion, early tomorrow. An even brighter light will stand not far to their left: the planet Mercury. They are quite low during the dawn twilight.