It's impossible to say definitively which star is the "brightest" in the sky late December without knowing your location. The answer depends on where you are in the world.

However, here are some of the brightest stars you might see in December:

* Sirius: The brightest star in the night sky overall, located in the constellation Canis Major. It's prominent in the winter sky in the Northern Hemisphere.

* Canopus: The second brightest star in the sky, located in the constellation Carina. This star is only visible from the Southern Hemisphere.

* Arcturus: A bright orange-red star in the constellation Boötes, easily visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

* Vega: A bright, bluish-white star in the constellation Lyra, visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the summer months.

* Capella: A bright yellow star in the constellation Auriga, visible in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter months.

To determine the brightest stars visible in your location, I recommend using a stargazing app like Stellarium or SkySafari. These apps will show you a real-time view of the night sky based on your location and time.