December is a busy month when it comes to watching meteor showers. There are 10 different ones throughout the month and 9 of them have their peak days this month.
Meteor showers are some of the coolest celestial events to witness. It is not necessary to use a telescope or binoculars to watch them, making them some of the most accessible as well for people that are just getting into astronomy and stargazing.
Every month there are a few meteor showers. They are very consistent and happen every year around the same dates and in the same location in the sky.
If you want to learn more about meteor showers, check out the following articles:
List of December meteor showers
The following are the meteor showers that will happen in the month of December.
The list is sorted by the peak date.
November Orionids (November 13 – December 6)
General Information
| Name | November Orionids |
| Start date | November 13 |
| End date | December 6 |
| Peak | November 28 |
| Comet | unknown |
| Speed | 44 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 3 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Orion |
| Right ascencion | 6.1 |
| Declination | +16° 00′ 00″ |
Phoenicids (November 28 – December 9)
General Information
| Name | Phoenicids |
| Start date | November 28 |
| End date | December 9 |
| Peak | December 2 |
| Comet | 289P/Blanpain |
| Speed | 18 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | variable |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Phoenix |
| Right ascencion | 1h 12m -0s |
| Declination | -53° 00′ 00″ |
Puppid-Velids (November 28 – December 9)
General Information
| Name | Puppid-Velids |
| Start date | December 1 |
| End date | December 15 |
| Peak | December 7 |
| Comet | unknown |
| Speed | 40 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 10 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Right ascension | 8.2 |
| Declination | -45° 00′ 00″ |
Monocerotids (December 5 – December 20)
General Information
| Name | Monocerotids |
| Start date | December 5 |
| End date | December 20 |
| Peak | December 9 |
| Comet | C/1917 F1 (Mellish) |
| Speed | 41 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 3 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Right ascension | 100 |
| Declination | 8° 00′ 00″ |
Sigma Hydrids (December 3 – December 20)
General Information
| Name | Sygma Hydrids |
| Start date | December 3 |
| End date | December 20 |
| Peak | December 9 |
| Comet | unknown |
| Speed | 58 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 7 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Right ascension | 8.3 |
| Declination | 2° 00′ 00″ |
Geminids (December 4 – December 20)
General Information
| Name | Geminids |
| Start date | December 4 |
| End date | December 20 |
| Peak | December 14 |
| Comet | 3200 Phaethon |
| Speed | 35 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 150 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension | 07h 28m |
| Declination | 32° 00′ 00″ |
Comae Berenicids (December 12 – December 23)
General Information
| Name | Comae Berenicids |
| Start date | December 12 |
| End date | December 23 |
| Peak | December 16 |
| Comet | unknown |
| Speed | 65 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 3 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Right ascension | 11h 40m -0s |
| Declination | 18° 00′ 00″ |
December Leonis Minorids (December 5 – February 4)
General Information
| Name | December Leonis Minorids |
| Start date | December 5 |
| End date | February 4 |
| Peak | December 20 |
| Comet | – |
| Speed | 64 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 5 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Leo minor |
| Right ascension | 10.7 |
| Declination | 30° 00′ 00″ |
Ursids (December 17 – December 26)
General Information
| Name | Ursids |
| Start date | December 17 |
| End date | December 26 |
| Peak | December 22 |
| Comet | 8P/Tuttle |
| Speed | 33 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 10 |
| Brightness | Mid |
Location
| Constellation | Ursa minor |
| Right ascension | 14h 28m |
| Declination | 78° 00′ 00″ |
Quadrantids (December 28 – January 12)
General Information
| Name | Quadrantids |
| Start date | December 28 |
| End date | January 12 |
| Peak | January 3 |
| Comet | (196256) 2003 EH1 |
| Speed | 41 km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 110 |
| Brightness | High |
Location
| Constellation | Bootes |
| Right ascension | 15h 28m |
| Declination | 50° 00′ 00″ |
Meteor shower guides for other months:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December