The First Star of Christmas: When the Capella Will Appear in Your City.

According to ТСН: On December 24, 2025, Ukrainians will have the chance to observe the first visible star in the evening sky — Capella. This star often marks the beginning of Christmas Eve and sitting down for the Christmas dinner.

The first star symbolizes the Bethlehem star and is an important element of Christmas traditions for many Ukrainian families.

Time of the First Star Appearance by Regions

The time of the first star's rise differs in various regions of Ukraine. It will appear earliest in the east and latest in the west.

Earliest Time

• Luhansk — 16:08

• Kharkiv — 16:15

• Sumy — 16:18

Central Ukraine

• Poltava — 16:23

• Dnipro — 16:25

• Cherkasy — 16:34

• Kyiv — 16:36

• Kropyvnytskyi — 16:36

South

• Mykolaiv — 16:42

• Odesa — 16:49

• Kherson — 16:41

• Zaporizhia — 16:27

• Simferopol — 16:40

• Sevastopol — 16:43

West of Ukraine

• Vinnytsia — 16:49

• Khmelnytskyi — 16:54

• Ternopil — 16:59

• Lviv — 17:04

• Ivano-Frankivsk — 17:05

• Chernivtsi — 17:02

• Uzhhorod — 17:16

North

• Chernihiv — 16:29

• Zhytomyr — 16:45

• Rivne — 16:53

• Lutsk — 16:56

The difference in the time of the first star's appearance between the east and west of Ukraine is over an hour. Astronomers emphasize that Capella is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is visible even in twilight.

This significant moment not only marks the beginning of Christmas but also unites Ukrainians in a shared tradition. Observing the first star can become a wonderful occasion for family gatherings and celebrations, as well as for honoring cultural traditions passed down through generations.