What to See in the Night Sky This December: Meteor Showers & Seasonal Celestial Events

 

As the year winds down and the holidays arrive, the night sky puts on one final show! December brings some of the most anticipated celestial events of 2025, from brilliant meteor shower peaks to the winter solstice and the longest night of the year, and dark desert skies perfect for lingering beneath the stars. In Twentynine Palms, where Joshua Tree National Park is an International Dark Sky Park and stargazing is a way of life, winter nights invite visitors to slow down, look up, and reconnect with the cosmos. Whether you’re planning a holiday getaway or a quiet end-of-year escape, pair your nights under the stars with cozy lodging, local dining, creative shops, and outdoor adventures, and let 29 Palms be your home base for closing out 2025 on a truly celestial note!

 

 

Stargazing at Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center Twentynine Palms California

 

Geminid Meteor Shower | Peak: December 13–14

Often considered the crown jewel of the meteor calendar, the Geminid meteor shower peaks overnight December 13–14 and offers one of the most dazzling displays of the year. Under truly dark skies, stargazers may spot 100 or more meteors per hour, with bright, slow-moving streaks lighting up the night in all directions. Thanks to a favorable waning crescent moon, conditions in 2025 are excellent — especially for those watching after midnight from a dark-sky location. In Twentynine Palms, visitors are perfectly positioned to experience the Geminids at their best, whether inside Joshua Tree National Park, an International Dark Sky Park, or at Sky’s The Limit Observatory & Nature Center, where the campus is always open for telescope setup, binocular viewing, or simply reclining under the stars. No special equipment required — just warm layers, patience, and a clear desert sky.

 

Ursid Meteor Shower | December 17–26 (Peak: December 21)

Quiet, subtle, and perfectly timed with the season, the Ursid meteor shower peaks around the winter solstice, offering a peaceful stargazing experience amid the holiday hustle. While the Ursids don’t produce the same volume as the Geminids, they’re often overlooked — and well worth the effort. In 2025, the new moon arrives just days before the peak, creating beautifully dark skies for watching meteors from the evening of December 21 through dawn. This is an ideal shower for slow, reflective nights outdoors, wrapped in blankets with hot drinks in hand. From Twentynine Palms, stargazers can enjoy these solstice meteors beneath some of Southern California’s darkest skies, with Sky’s The Limit and nearby desert viewing areas providing wide-open horizons and minimal light pollution.

 

Quadrantid Meteor Shower | December 28 – January 12 (Peak: January 4)

Ringing in the New Year with a burst of celestial activity, the Quadrantid meteor shower spans late December into mid-January, with a brief but powerful peak in the early morning hours of January 4. Known for its sharp, narrow window of activity, the Quadrantids reward early risers with bright, fast-moving meteors — especially when moonlight is blocked from view. Though the peak competes with a bright moon in 2026, darker desert skies make a noticeable difference, and Twentynine Palms remains an ideal home base for catching the show. Bundle up, find a dark vantage point, and look skyward in the hours before dawn as the year’s first major meteor shower streaks overhead.

 

Tips for Watching Meteor Showers

A great meteor shower doesn’t require fancy equipment — just the right setting and a little patience. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your night under the stars:

•    Find the darkest sky possible. Open desert landscapes and dark-sky locations away from streetlights make all the difference.

•    Give your eyes time to adjust. Plan to stay at least an hour; it takes about 20 minutes for night vision to fully kick in.

•    Look up, not down. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, so lean back comfortably and take in the full view.

•    Dress for the season. December nights are chilly — bring warm layers, blankets, or a sleeping bag to stay cozy.

•    Be patient. Meteors often arrive in bursts with quiet lulls in between.

•    Skip the screens. Phones and flashlights ruin night vision — this is the perfect moment to unplug and just look up.

No telescopes required — though binoculars are great for spotting star clusters and the Milky Way while you wait.

 

 

Under the Stars at Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center Twentynine Palms California

 

Winter Solstice | December 21

The winter solstice marks a turning point in the year — and one of the most meaningful nights for stargazers. On December 21, the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, giving the Northern Hemisphere its shortest day and longest night of the year. In the desert, that extra darkness feels especially profound, stretching the evening hours and creating ideal conditions for slow, immersive stargazing. For many cultures, the solstice has long symbolized renewal and reflection, a reminder that while the nights are at their longest, brighter days are already on their way. In Twentynine Palms, the solstice is best celebrated outdoors — beneath expansive desert skies, within Joshua Tree National Park’s International Dark Sky Park, or at Sky’s The Limit Observatory & Nature Center, where visitors can mark the season by watching the stars rise early and linger late into the night. Although the winter solstice means the start of winter, it also means the return of more sunlight!

 

 

Sky's The Limit Observatory Stargazing Programs Twentynine Palms California

 

2026 Stargazing Programs Now Open at Sky’s The Limit

As December’s celestial events close out 2025, the night sky also invites us to look ahead, and there’s no better way to continue the journey than by planning future nights under the stars. Sky’s The Limit Observatory & Nature Center has officially opened registration for its 2026 monthly stargazing programs and these popular evenings fill quickly, so don't wait to reserve your spot! Each program invites guests to experience the night sky through guided storytelling and live telescope views. Led by expert astronomers, sessions feature real-time images of distant galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters captured by the observatory’s 14” telescope, followed by outdoor observing with multiple scopes under Twentynine Palms’ famously dark desert skies.

 

December is one of the most magical times to experience Twentynine Palms — when long, quiet nights invite you to slow down, look up, and truly take it all in. Make the most of the season by planning a stay in 29 Palms, where you’ll find welcoming hotels, boutique inns, vacation rentals, and RV resorts just minutes from world-class stargazing. Pair your nights under the stars with local restaurants, creative shops, outdoor adventures, and unforgettable desert landscapes — and close out the year in a place where the night sky is part of the experience.