Deneb Cygnus + Leonids

Our journey through the dark skies of December begins with the constellation Cygnus the Swan and its brightest star, Deneb. This blue-white supergiant, one of the galaxy’s brightest, marks the Swan’s tail or the top of the Northern Cross. Throughout winter’s early darkness, Cygnus is low in the western sky in late evening, flying westward along the Milky Way’s diffuse river of starlight into fading twilight.

While the Leonid meteor shower (known for its radiant point — the area of the sky from where meteors appear to originate — in Leo), peaked in mid-November, sporadic Leonid meteors may still be visible in early December. These celestial remnants of the comet Tempel-Tuttle create a stunning display as they streak across the night sky. Tonight, be sure to appreciate the Winter Triangle, formed by the stars Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon, rising in the eastern sky during the evening. Amid these winter marvels, Deneb remains a constant guiding light in the firmament, welcoming the last month of the year with its steady glow.