Tonight: Geminid meteor shower peaks
One of the best meteor showers of the year is peaking tonight, sparking shooting stars into the chilly December sky. Here's when and where to look for the Geminid meteor shower.
Although a nearly full moon will contest the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, there are ways you can still observe the shower. Don’t let the moon stop you from seeing shooting stars.
One of the best meteor showers of the year is about to peak, sparking shooting stars into the chilly December sky. It's considered one of the best meteor showers of the year because the meteors are bright and plentiful.
The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight, Thursday, Dec. 12, into the early hours of Friday, Dec. 13. Most years, it boasts up to 120 meteors per hour; however, a nearly full moon will outshine many of the dimmer meteors in 2024.
The Geminids over the Himalayas in Tibet (Getty Images)
While the Geminid meteor shower is most prominently seen from the Northern Hemisphere, it is also observable from the Southern Hemisphere. Meteor showers derive their names from the constellation where their meteors seem to originate, with the upcoming event linked to Gemini.
Gemini is relatively simple to identify in the night sky; it lies to the northeast of Orion and between the constellations Taurus and Cancer. The constellation is distinguished by its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, which symbolize the heads of the Gemini twins.
To spot Geminid meteors, you don’t need to look directly at the constellation. The meteors will be visible throughout the entire night sky with the first shooting stars appearing not long after nightfall. However, due to the nearly full moon competing for dominance in the sky on peak night, stargazers are advised to look for meteors in darker areas where the moon is out of sight.
Astronomy Professor Chris Palma from Penn State University offers his advice on how to catch the best astronomical events this December.
December has the longest nights of the entire year, providing more time for stargazing. However, it also brings an uptick in storms and clouds, which can make it challenging to view some of the upcoming celestial sights.
There is one final meteor shower of the year following the Geminids. On the night of Dec. 21 into the morning of Dec. 22, the Ursids will peak. However, it will not be as impressive of a show compared to the Geminids, as the late-December event only brings around 10 meteors per hour.
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