Challenge: Explore the Sky 2025-2026
- Admin DU
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Our annual Observation Challenge is back!
During the months of December and January, we invite you to discover the wonders of the sky. There are so many beautiful things you can explore by simply looking up! As a part of this Challenge, you will get the chance to observe the Moon in its various phases, the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and learn to identify several stars and constellations!
Here you will find a list of observations that are part of this year’s Challenge as well as their timing, locations in the sky, and tips and tricks that could help your classroom complete the Challenge.
SPECIAL INVITATION TO TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS!
Register for our Challenge activity to receive additional information and educational materials, allowing your classroom to complete this Challenge with ease!
You can download the Challenge Sheet below to note your observations. If the weather cooperates, and you manage to complete the sheet with plenty of time left in the Challenge, you can add a copy of the sheet or use any simple observation journal.
Click the image above to download the Challenge Sheet (PDF).
The Proposed Observations
NOTE: These observations are visible throughout Southern Canada and at similar latitudes (such as Europe). Some of the observations could be a challenge under more Northern latitudes. Contact us if you have any questions!
Let’s observe the Moon! See observations number 1, 3, and 6.
And then maybe a planet or two? Check out numbers 2, 7, and 8.
Maybe a constellation? Check out 2 and 4.
How about the stars and constellations… You’ll want to visit numbers 5, 7, 8 and 9.
Then learn more about the path of the Sun and the Moon! Under numbers 4 and 8.
Click on the arrow of each item to see the image and the description of each challenge observation!
1 - Full Moon 🌕
Each month, the Full Moon phase offers us a spectacular view of the Moon’s face fully lit up by the Sun. During this phase the Moon rises in the evening, stays up the entire night, and sets in the morning.
See if you can observe the Full Moon in the evening, when it’s in the East. The best days to observe this phase are December 3-5, 2025, and January 2-4, 2026. The Full Moon in the winter months travels much higher in the sky. With the snow reflecting the moonlight, full moon nights in winter can be much brighter. Definitely noticeable if you live away from the city lights! During early December, the Moon will be at its closest to the Earth. Though, this won’t change the moon’s size in the sky that much! The higher up the Moon is in the sky, the smaller it seems to appear.
2 - Jupiter and Saturn
See if you can spot these two planets! Throughout December and January, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible in the Southern sky. Jupiter will be the brighter of the two and should be easily visible in the Southeast, right above the constellation Orion. Saturn will be in the Southwest, a little dimmer and relatively lower in the sky.
If you look early in the evening, you might not spot Jupiter in the first half of December: it will be below the horizon or not high enough to see. It will rise earlier and earlier as the Challenge proceeds and will then be easy to spot in the Southeast. Saturn will be visible early to late evening, for the duration of the Challenge.
3 - First Quarter Moon 🌓
In late December and late January, the First Quarter Moon will be visible in the sky during the afternoon through early evening. This is an excellent opportunity to take your class outside for a group experience.
The Moon’s shape will almost resemble a capital “D” in the sky.
The best days to observe this are December 27, 2025, and January 25, 2026. Do your best to catch the First Quarter Moon on these dates! In this phase, the Moon will rise around noon and set just after midnight. You can spot the Moon high in the sky during the day, or closer to Sunset when it’ll be in the Southwest. As the sky darkens, you may even catch a glimpse of Saturn below the Moon!
4 - Sunset
On any day when there aren’t too many clouds, you’ll find the setting Sun in the Western sky. Take note of the time! You can use Time&Date to figure out exactly when the Sunset will occur at your location. The Sun sets very early during the winter! The shortest day of the year is on December 21, 2025, also known as Winter Solstice. See if you notice the difference in Sunset times before and after the Solstice.
⚠️⚠️Be careful, never look at the Sun directly, even when it sets. You could damage your eyes⚠️⚠️
5 - The Summer Triangle: Deneb, Vega, and Altair
In the early evening, you can see the stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair forming a triangle in the West. This triangle is called the Summer Triangle, because it’s quite predominantly placed high in the sky during summer months.
The Summer Triangle will be visible a few hours after sunset throughout this Challenge. See if you can locate this triangle in the Western sky!
The three stars that make up the Summer Triangle are also part of three separate constellations. Vega belongs to the Lyra constellation, Altair belongs to Aquila —the Eagle constellation, and Deneb belongs to Cygnus also known as the Swan constellation.
6 - Last Quarter Moon 🌗
During the Last Quarter Moon, the lit portion of the Moon sort of looks like a filled-in letter “C”. During this phase, the Moon rises late at night (around midnight) and sets at midday. So, you can catch it for observation around early to mid-morning in the Southwest!
The best dates to look for the Last Quarter Moon during this Challenge are around December 11 and January 10 in the early morning.
7 - Orion and its Neighbourhood
The Southern sky is one of the brightest areas at night this season. The most prominent constellation in this direction is Orion the Hunter. Its shape resembles an hourglass, and it’s relatively easy to spot. Its belt is formed of three equally bright stars in a line.
The best times to observe Orion during this Challenge would be late December and January. It will be towards the East, lower in the sky during early evenings, and will climb up southwards as the night passes. You can use it to find other bright stars in the sky!
The top left corner of Orion is the bright star Betelgeuse - but don’t mix it with Jupiter which is much brighter and further to the left. Around Jupiter are the two bright stars of Gemini: Castor and Pollux.
You can spot Aldebaran by looking above the top right of Orion. This is the brightest star in the Taurus constellation. A little above Aldebaran, you will find the Pleiades, a beautiful cluster of stars.
Straight below Orion’s belt is Sirius, the brightest star in our night sky! It’s also called the dog star since it is part of the constellation Canis Major. In late January, you will be able to spot Sirius in the early evenings. It would be lower in the eastern sky, and could be harder to view if the horizon in that direction is obscured for you.
Orion, the surrounding stars, and Jupiter will be visible in late December and January. Depending on when you make your observations, you might even catch the Moon in this corner of the sky!
8 - Zodiac Constellations
All Solar System objects, such as the Sun, the Moon, and the planets, traverse the sky in a single set path. The constellations that fall on this path are the famous zodiac constellations. You might be able to spot a few of them during this Challenge.
The easiest way to estimate the location of the zodiac belt is to spot the Moon and the planets, and imagine a line passing through them. If you are making this observation on a moonless night, Jupiter will be the brightest object you’ll find in the zodiac belt. Right above Jupiter are two stars known as Castor and Pollux. These are the brightest stars in the Gemini constellation.
If you are making your observations in the evening, you will be able to see Taurus, right across from Gemini. You can spot Taurus using the method detailed in Observation #7.
If you want to see more zodiac constellations, wake up early and look up before sunrise! You will be able to spot Leo to the East of Gemini. Look for a characteristic sickle shape, that’s the head of the lion constellation! If you’re lucky, you may even spot Spica, the brightest star in the Virgo constellation, East of Leo.
Only parts of the zodiac belt will show up in the night sky during these two months. See how many zodiac constellations you can spot out of the twelve!
9 - Constellations around the Pole Star
The Big Dipper is a collection of seven stars that make a pot-like shape in the Northern sky. Four stars form the bowl, while three stars extend out as a handle. Just opposite the Big Dipper is the constellation Cassiopeia, which looks like the letter "M".
The Big Dipper, which is actually in the constellation Ursa Major, and the constellation Cassiopeia are always in the sky, continuously circling the Pole Star. These types of constellations are called Circumpolar Constellations.
The Pole Star, named Polaris, is the only star in the sky that does not appear to move as the Earth spins. For centuries, it has helped humans in the Northern Hemisphere find True North, earning it the moniker ‘North Star’.
Polaris is actually quite faint and difficult to find at a glance. But you can use Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper to spot it. Look for Cassiopeia’s characteristic “M” shape in the North, and find the Big Dipper opposite of it, on the underside of the “M”. Polaris is the star roughly in the middle of these two constellations!
See if you can locate Polaris, Cassiopeia, and the Big Dipper! The star and both constellations will be visible every night, from sunset to sunrise.
Bonus: How High is the Pole Star?
Did you know? One way to find out how far North you are (your latitude), is to measure how high the Pole Star (Polaris) is in the sky!
At the Equator, the Pole Star is on the horizon. In contrast, at the North Pole, Polaris is directly overhead (called the zenith). If you find yourself in the Southern Hemisphere, you won’t see it at all!
Try our Bonus Challenge this year by finding out how high the Pole Star is in your sky. Stretch one arm out horizontally in front of you (keep it level with your shoulders). Then, spot the Pole Star, either through the method detailed in Observation #9 of this Challenge or a night sky app. Now, raise your other arm until your fingers point to the Pole Star. Notice the angle between your arms. That angle is your latitude, a measure of how far North you are!
