Home > Asterism, Constellations, Ephemeris Program, Observing, Stars > Ephemeris: 12/15/2025 – Capella, the winter star that never quite leaves us*

Ephemeris: 12/15/2025 – Capella, the winter star that never quite leaves us*

December 15, 2025

This is Ephemeris for Monday, December 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:14. The Moon, halfway from last quarter to new, will rise at 5:13 tomorrow morning.

Capella is the northernmost first magnitude stars. Tonight it shines in the northeastern sky. First magnitude stars are the 21 brightest stars in the night sky. Capella is the 6th brightest. Although I’ve always known it as the little she-goat, Capella’s name literally translates to “little goat.” Her three Kids are represented by a narrow triangle of stars positioned to the right of her in tonight’s evening sky. Capella is in the topmost corner of the pentagonal constellation of Auriga the Charioteer. Capella is actually a system of four stars only 43 light years away. And never sets for listeners in the Interlochen Public Radio transmission area who have a low northern horizon.

The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.

* If you live north of 44° north latitude.

Addendum

An animated finder for Auriga for 9 PM, mid-December, 2025
An animated finder for Auriga for 9 PM, mid-December, 2025, near the top. Note the “Kids”. The slender triangle of star to the right of Capella. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Capella near the northern horizon at midnight on July 1st.
Capella near the northern horizon at midnight on July 1st. The brighter star on the right is Mirfak, the 2nd magnitude star in Perseus, while 1st magnitude Capella drops to 3rd magnitude due to the great amount of atmosphere it must penetrate. Star field created using Stellarium.
Capella and the Kids in the early evening. Created using Stellarium.
Capella and the Kids in the early evening. Created using Stellarium.

Categories: Asterism, Constellations, Ephemeris Program, Observing, Stars Tags: , ,