December, Mid-Northern Latitudes (December 15th, 10:30 p.m. local time)

Western Horizon
Eastern Horizon

West

It's fall's end! The winter solstice will be on next December 22nd. Hence the sky is transitioning from the last sights of fall to the ones of winter. West, see how the Great Square of Pegasus is well settled there, from the South, where it's mostly seen during fall. The chain of Pisces, the Fishes, to its left, is a fine view too. Still high, M31 -this grey oval on the chart- is the famed Andromeda Galaxy, a fine target and a fine view. Cassiopeia, high, or Cepheus are fine views northeast as it's Cetus, the Whale and Eridanus, the river Eridanus which are seen South now. As Eridanus is taking its source to Rigel of Orion, it's heading a long way down, as it's ending its course in the southern hemisphere. to a printer-friendly chart
West for the tropics. West for the mid-southern latitudes

East

The great winter sky has now well risen East. Albeit it didn't took its place already South, where it will be seen during winter, it's already revealing all those constellations which are part of it. The bright star, southeast, is Sirius, the main star to Canis Major, the Great Dog, which is still low. To the left of Sirius, here is another dog-related star: Procyon, the main star to Canis Minor, the Little Dog. The row above is peopled by Gemini, the Twins and, of course, the famed Orion, the Hunter, this large quadrilateral of stars, with three aligned in the center. Upper still, at last, and high in the sky, Auriga, the Charioteer, with the bright Capella, and Taurus, the Bull, with Aldebaran are to be found. As the Great Dipper is emerging from its circumpolar journey over the northern horizon, the faint Lynx is seen between there and the great winter sky. See, North, how it's now Draco, the Dragon which is finely grazing the horizon. to a printer-friendly chart
East for the tropics. East for the mid-southern latitudes

(color maps with Stellarium; printer-friendly charts with Cartes du Ciel, Patrick Chevalley)