December 2015 night sky guide for the Southern Hemisphere

The warm summer evenings in December provide an excellent opportunity to go outside and enjoy a comfortable view of the night sky. The clouds of Magellan, our closest visible galaxies, are easily seen in the south from dark locations. The famous ′saucepan’ or Orion’s belt and sword dominate the eastern sky along with the dazzling Sirius the dog-star. The Geminid meteor shower peaks early mid month and is one of the best chances to see shooting stars all year. Geoffrey Wyatt from the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences’ Sydney Observatory will help you navigate through the brighter stars, constellations, lore and December’s key events.