Association of Friends of Astronomy

Pleiades Occultation
Moon will cover an Open cluster of star in Taurus Constellation. This cluster is called Pleiades also known as Krutika Nakshatra.

Geminid Meteor Shower
The Geminid meteor shower will be active from 7 December to 17 December, producing its peak rate of meteors around morning of 14 December.
At its peak, the shower is expected to produce a nominal rate of around 120 meteors per hour.
Presence of gibbous Moon will play a spoil sport for meteor shower observation.

December Solstice
The December solstice occurs at 09:17 UTC. The South Pole of the earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its southernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude. This is the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer (summer solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ursids Meteor Shower
The Ursids is a minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. It is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25. It peaks this year on the the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. Best viewing will be just after midnight from a dark location far away from city lights. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor

Quadrantids Meteor Shower
January 3, 4 - The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs annually from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) was discovered on April 5, 2024, by the ATLAS astronomical survey. Judging by its orbit, it might be a dynamically new comet, which means it enters the inner Solar System for the first time.
In January 2025, comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will get closest to the Sun and might reach naked-eye visibility. Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will make its closest approach to the Earth on 13 January, at a distance of of 0.94 AU.

VENUS AT HIGHEST ALTITUDE
Venus will reach its highest point in the sky in its 2025 evening apparition. It will be shining brightly at mag -4.4. This apparition will be reasonably placed and prominent, reaching a peak altitude of 43° above the horizon at sunset on 26 January 2025.