December brings long winter nights and clear skies, making it one of the best months for planet watching. While some planets fade from view, others shine brightly, offering stargazers an exciting chance to see them without advanced equipment.
If you want to know which are the brightest planets visible in December’s night sky, when to spot them, and where to look, here is a complete, simple guide.
Jupiter: The Brightest Planet in December Nights
In December 2025, Jupiter will be the brightest planet in the evening sky. It looks like a very bright star, easy to see with the naked eye. A few hours after sunset, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast direction and steadily climbs higher as the night progresses.
Jupiter shines at an impressive brightness level, brighter than most stars and planets visible this month. Even a small telescope shows its famous cloud bands and four large moons, making it a favourite target for astronomers and sky lovers. The best nights to view Jupiter include early December, especially around December 7, when it appears close to the moon. This makes it even easier to locate in the sky.
To find Jupiter, go to an open space with a clear view of the horizon. Look toward the east-northeast, about 2–3 hours after sunset.
Saturn: Visible in the First Half of the Night
Saturn will also be clearly visible in December, although it is not as bright as Jupiter. It appears in the southern sky just after sunset and remains visible for almost half of the night.
Saturn shines with a soft golden tone and can be spotted even without a telescope. However, a telescope gives the real magic: the planet’s iconic rings.
In 2025, the rings appear almost edge-on to Earth, meaning they look thinner than usual- a rare viewing treat for sky observers.
To find Saturn, face south soon after sunset. It will be positioned in the constellation Aquarius, standing out among faint stars. Around December 26, the planet appears close to the moon again, making late December another good spotting window.
Mercury: Morning Star Surprise in Early December
Unlike Jupiter and Saturn, Mercury shows its best view in December before sunrise, not at night. This will be Mercury’s strongest morning appearance of the year.
To view Mercury, wake up early during the first 3 weeks of December. Look at the east-southeast horizon, around 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury looks like a small bright dot, usually easy to find in clear sky conditions.
Around December 7, Mercury reaches its highest separation from the sun, rising earlier than morning twilight. This helps sky watchers see it higher above the horizon, about 10 degrees above ground level.
By Christmas, Mercury begins to sink lower into sunrise glare, becoming harder to see without binoculars. So, early December mornings will be the best time.
Sunlight Blocks View of Venus and Mars This Month
For months, Venus held the title of the morning star, but in December 2025, Venus will fade into bright sunrise light and become temporarily invisible. Its return begins in late February 2026, when it reappears shortly after sunset in western skies.
Mars will also be out of view this month, hidden by the sun’s glare. Mars crosses solar conjunction in early January 2026, which means the sun blocks our view. It starts becoming visible again by early spring, low in the eastern dawn horizon.
Best Tips for Planet Watching in December
- Choose open areas with low light pollution
- Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for 5–10 minutes
- Use the horizon and fist-distance trick for angle estimates
- Early December nights best for Jupiter and Saturn
- The first 3 weeks before sunrise are best for Mercury
December Night Sky is Still a Stargazer’s Treat
Although Venus and Mars pause their sky show, Jupiter and Saturn dominate December evenings, while Mercury offers stunning morning views. With correct timing and direction, these planets remain easy celestial targets for anyone curious about the sky.
