December 19, 2025: With the moon at the new phase, look for Uranus near the Pleiades and faint Neptune near Saturn on December evenings from dark locations.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:14 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:22 p.m. CST. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
New Moon
The moon reaches the new phase at 7:43 p.m. Central Time, beginning lunation 1274, the count of lunar cycles that started over a century ago. Look for the waxing crescent in the southwestern sky in three evenings.
With the lunar orb dark this evening, look for Uranus and Neptune, the most distant and dimmest major planets. Their visibilities are strongly affected by moonlight and by outdoor lighting.
Uranus
Uranus is the easier of the two to locate. From rural sites, it is visible without optical assistance. From suburban locations, use a binocular. The planet is in the same field of view with the Pleiades star cluster, a miniature dipper shape in Taurus.
Step outside with a binocular about two hours after sunset, not so late with early sunsets. Aldebaran, Taurus’ brightest star, is about 20° up in the east, one-fifth of the way from the horizon to overhead. Its topaz hue is distinct through the binocular. Taurus and the Hyades outline the Bull’s head. The cluster is a pleasing binocular view, with the bovine’s horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri, to the lower left.
The Pleiades are nearly 15° above Aldebaran, less than halfway up in the sky. Count the blue-white stars through the binocular. Then shift the binocular slightly so that the cluster is near the upper left portion of the view. Aquamarine Uranus is nearby, close to 13 and 14 Tauri. Star 13 is blue-white, similar to the Pleiades, while 14 is yellow-white.
Neptune
Neptune, in comparison, is a challenging sight. While the planet appears near Saturn, the most distant major planet is quite dim, although visible through a binocular. Observe from the darkest location possible, free from moonlight and outdoor lighting, although it may be found from suburban sites. Neptune is best seen as twilight ends, about 90 minutes after sunset, and for about two hours while it is highest in the southern sky. Look for Saturn about halfway up in the southern sky.
Averted (peripheral) vision works best. Look toward the center of the binocular field and the faint bluish star-like point may appear. This technique takes practice; attempt to find the planet each clear evening until the lunar orb grows to about 30% illumination, when its brightness begins to hinder faint-object observing.
Place Saturn slightly to the lower right portion of the binocular field. Identify the stars 20, 24, 27, and 29 Piscium. Bluish Neptune is above these stars and near a yellow-white star of similar brightness.
During the evening hours, look for Uranus and Neptune with a binocular.
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