Chinese skies will be the backdrop for a variety of spectacular astronomical phenomena this month.

According to astronomers with the Chinese University of Science and Technology (CUST),  based in Hefei city, capital of east China's Anhui Province,  Jupiter will overlap the crescent moon on December 7.  The two bodies are closest they have been in recent years.

On December 10,  the crescent moon will overlap Venus and Mars.

China will be the most ideal place to observe the Geminids meteor shower which will peak on December 14, when approximately 120 meteors will be visible hourly.  The shower will be visible from December 7 to 17.

Stargazers are likely to see with naked eyes the surface of the Mercury for the last two days of this month, when the planet is located to the west of the sun.  The best time to view this phenomena will be 30 to 50 minutes before dawn.

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2004)