There is a small but convenient meteor shower late on Saturday night. The center of the Ursid meteor shower is right up near the Little Dipper and the best time is before the moon rises later in the evening.

The peak of the shower is early Sunday morning but you might see any one of the meteors anytime ahead, up until Christmas Eve. Astronomers report you usually might see 15 meteors in an hour if you look around 1 a.m. However, the rising moon will interfere. It is better to not think on those terms. Just get outside late Saturday night and take a good look up in the area of the North Star, and the surrounding stars. Do it before the moon rises around midnight in the east.

Winter Solstice

Winter arrives early Saturday morning, at 4:21 o'clock. Night this month is about 15 hours long and on this night it is characterized as the longest night.

Noticeable evidence of lengthening daylight is weeks away.