Geminid meteor shower peaks this week: How to watch
What's the story
The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated celestial events of December, will peak on the night of December 13. The display is expected to be particularly spectacular this year due to favorable viewing conditions. The waning crescent Moon will not rise until just after 2:00am on Sunday (December 14 US time), leaving dark skies for optimal viewing.
Unique
A meteor shower like no other
The Geminid meteor shower is known for its reliability and intensity, making it a favorite among skywatchers. British meteor expert Alastair McBeath has called it "one of the very best presently seen from the Earth." The meteors, nicknamed "Gems," are slower and more graceful than those from other showers, hitting our atmosphere at 35km per second. This year, conditions for viewing are nearly perfect with minimal lunar interference.
Optimal conditions
Viewing tips for the Geminid meteor shower
The best time to observe the Geminids is before dawn when your side of Earth moves into the meteor stream head-on. However, they can also be seen before midnight as their radiant point near the bright star Castor in Gemini rises early. Under ideal dark sky conditions, observers could see up to 150 meteors per hour around midnight when the radiant point is nearly overhead.
Meteor characteristics
What to expect from the shower
The average brightness of a Geminid meteor is around second or third magnitude (as bright as stars in the Big Dipper). About one in 10 reach magnitude zero or even brighter, and a few can be bright fireballs or even bolides (exploding meteors), capable of casting shadows. Around 65% of all "Gems" appear pure white; 25% yellow; the rest can appear in a variety of different hues: red, orange, blue, even green.