Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun, is usually hard to see with the naked eye. But December gives us a golden chance to spot it in the early morning. Set your alarm for 5:30 AM and look towards the east-southeast sky for a clear view. Mercury was in inferior conjunction on November 20, placing it between Earth and the Sun. It crossed near Venus on November 24 but was still hidden by the dawn light. By November 27, Mercury rose 75 minutes before the Sun and became much brighter, making it easier to spot about an hour before sunrise. On December 5, Mercury appeared just before sunrise in the dark sky, glowing at magnitude -0.3. The highlight comes on Sunday, December 7, when Mercury reaches its maximum elongation. It rises around one hour and 50 minutes before the Sun at magnitude -0.4, shining brighter than most stars except Sirius and Canopus. Look about two hours before sunrise just above the east-southeast horizon to see a bright yellowish-orange spot. Four reasons make this December special for seeing Mercury clearly: 1) The ecliptic angle at sunrise is steeper in the Northern Hemisphere autumn. 2) Mercury is north of the ecliptic this month after passing its ascending orbital node on November 18. 3) Mercury is near its closest point to the Sun, boosting its orbital speed. 4) At inferior conjunction, Mercury is closer to Earth and moves noticeably against the Sun. By December 7, 62% of Mercury's surface facing Earth is illuminated. It brightens slightly to magnitude -0.5 by December 9 and stays visible for several weeks. So this December, why miss the chance to greet Mercury, the speedy rock star of our solar system?