SkyCaramba

The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks this week.

Earth is closest to the sun.

The moon passes in front of planets somewhat often. Planets passing in front of other planets? Every once in a few lifetimes.

Most of the naked eye planets are congregating in the evening sky this week. December evenings are also a good time to see the Andromeda Galaxy. A century ago, astronomers weren't sure what it was. When one astronomer noticed something the rest missed, he blew their minds.

Mercury is an evening object, but you'll have trouble finding it.

Comet Leonard enters Microscopium as its orbital position takes it closer to the sun.

A popular question this time of year is what was the Star of Bethlehem. Most of the possible answers don't actually involve stars. When they do, they involve planets too.

Fast-moving Comet Leonard becomes an evening object this week.

Venus slows its march eastward to turn around.

The Geminid meteor shower peaks.

If you ever discover an asteroid, you'll get to name it after yourself, someone else, a place, or a thing. But it's not a case of anything goes. And it's not a fast process.

Sooner is better than later for seeing this year's Geminid meteors.

Consider the mystery about where the Geminids come from. They're not associated with a comet.

Be considerate when using outdoor lighting. It's not just astronomy that depends on a proper light.

Three planets are in our evening sky. Mars is emerging into the morning dome. Try to see Comet Leonard. And Antarctica gets a solar eclipse.

It's been 400 years since the harvest celebration that inspired the American Thanksgiving holiday. What did the pilgrims and the Wampanoag see in the sky in 1621?

Antarctica and places nearby get a solar eclipse.

Aquarius has represented spilling water since the Babylonians looked up and saw one of their gods emptying a jug.

Next week, the moon will delve almost as deeply as it can into Earth's shadow without a total eclipse. Find out where you can see it and what time it happens.

Also, keep up on what's happening with Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and Mars.

You certainly heard about Pluto being demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006. But the news about Ceres being promoted to that status didn't get nearly as much attention. (This edition has been edited to remove the incorrect date for Ceres' close pass by Aldebaran. The correct information is they will be closest at 0.1° apart on the 3rd. My apologies for the error.)

Venus crosses the teapot lid. Saturn and Jupiter hang out in Capricornus. The moon helps you find Mercury. Uranus is up all night this week.