Venus, Jupiter, and Mars Bright in the Evening Sky: This week, three planets—Venus, Jupiter, and Mars—are visible in the evening sky.
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars (Dec. 17): On Tuesday, December 17, a beautiful conjunction occurs when the waning gibbous Moon passes just one degree from Mars.
Mars at Opposition (Jan. 16, 2025): Mars is getting closer to Earth, and its brightness will increase leading up to its opposition on January 16, 2025.
Christmas Lights Effect (Dec. 18): On Wednesday, December 18, a string of four celestial "lights" can be seen in the eastern sky before bedtime.
Gemini Stars Castor and Pollux: The two bright stars at the top of the "Christmas lights" display on December 18 are Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of the constellation Gemini.
Winter Solstice (Dec. 21): The winter solstice occurs on December 21, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year for the northern hemisphere.
Minor Meteor Shower (Dec. 21-22): A minor meteor shower is expected around the solstice, though its intensity will be lower than larger showers.