The highlight of December's night sky is due to make an appearance on Friday the 13th.

After the poor showing of the Leonid meteor shower fingers are crossed for the Geminids.

The highlight of the month for astronomers is the appearance of the Geminid meteor shower.

This should be visible after about 9pm on the night of Friday 13th. Click here for more information.

The night sky

Saturn is the first planet visible in the evening (eastern) sky at sunset. Saturn is followed by the brighter Jupiter at around 9pm.

After 4am Jupiter and Saturn are joined by Mars and Venus. Venus is unmistakable, outshining all other objects in the night sky (the moon excepted of course).

Richard Angwin - Wiltshire weather is his expertise.

Orion is the most prominent and familiar of the constellations visible in the evening sky.

Betelgeuse marks the hunters left shoulder whilst Rigel, the most luminous star in our sky, marks his right.

Below the three stars that make up Orion’s belt is his sword. The sword contains a hazy area which is, in fact, M42 the Orion Nebula.

This stellar nursery is where new hot stars are being born.

The next full moon is at 1910 on Thursday 19th and the last quarter is on Friday 27th at 0031.

NASA Activity

There are no NASA missions planned this month to the International Space Station, following the return of Endeavour on the 2nd.

Two of the returning crew member had spent more than 180 days in space following delays caused fuel line cracks, bad weather and other technical problems.

Watch out for the ISS during the evening sky.