Best Astronomy Shots Of The Week: December’s Full Moon, Pleiades, M78 Nebula, And More [10-17 Dec]

During the week of 10-17 December, the night sky offered a spectacular show, highlighted by the shimmering beauty of the Pleiades and the December full moon — the last full moon of the year. As the year draws to a close, these best astronomy shots serve as a beautiful reminder of the space’s wonders.

This week’s collection also showcases breathtaking images of nebulae, including the iconic Horsehead Nebula, the colourful Lobster Nebula, and the reflective beauty of Messier 78. Scroll down the article and admire the amazing shots of passionate astrophotographers around the globe.

Best Astronomy Shots Of Pleiades Star Cluster

Sam Tower’s stunning capture of the Pleiades star cluster, shared via Facebook, showcases the brilliance of this celestial gem, also known as Messier 45. This glowing open cluster, nestled in the constellation Taurus, lies just 445 light-years from Earth and is easily visible to the naked eye.

Sam’s image reveals not only the cluster’s radiant stars but also the surrounding reflection nebula, illuminated in blue by the intense heat of these young, massive stars.

“I took this over the course of about 6 nights, with one hour per night as I was waiting for the main object I was focusing on to rise,” he wrote.

First Light Of The Pleiades

Martin Pugh presents another breathtaking “first light” image of the Pleiades star cluster, captured with his FSQ106EDX4 telescope in Namibia. This stunning shot highlights the cluster’s radiant blue stars, beautifully framed by the surrounding reflection nebula.

Magnificent Horsehead Nebula

The photo was taken in 2 nights, for a total of 10 hours and 50 minutes of exposure.

Mysterious Messier 78

Gianluca Belgrado’s “Magnificent Horsehead Nebula” captures one of the night sky’s most iconic objects. Taken over two nights with a total exposure time of 10 hours and 50 minutes, this image showcases the Horsehead Nebula’s intricate details and deep, rich colours.

December Full Moon Over France

Alvin Chriis captured the serene beauty of the December full moon as it rose over Grenoble, France. This stunning image highlights the final full moon of the year, glowing brightly against the evening sky. Its soft light bathes the mountainous landscape, creating a peaceful and magical scene.

Lobster Claw Nebula

Riccardo Balzarotti’s captivating image of the Lobster Claw Nebula (SH2-157) showcases the intricate beauty of this cosmic region. The nebula’s claw-like structure glows with vibrant reds and oranges, shaped by the ionized hydrogen gas. The Bubble Nebula can be spotted at the bottom left, strikingly contrasting its spherical structure and bright hues.

Full Moon And RRT-1 Launch

Brandon Berkoff (@spacebrandonb on X) captures a breathtaking moment as the RRT-1 mission lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, set against the glowing backdrop of the December full moon. The contrast between the moon’s brightness and the fiery launch creates an awe-inspiring scene. This incredible shot perfectly encapsulates the wonder of space exploration and the magic of the night sky.

Thank you to all the photographers who shared their amazing images for our best astronomy shots of last week’s list! We greatly appreciate your dedication and passion for astrophotography and wish you clear skies for your future captures!

If you want to share your amazing December captures of the night sky, please send them via our social media: Facebook or X page. You can also use our contact form on the website. We will gladly include them in our next collections of the best astrophotos of the week!