How to watch the Geminid meteor shower, one of the best of 2020

December doesn’t just bring the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, but also one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year – the Geminids. The shower is active from December 4 to 17, with a peak on the 13 and 14.

What are the Geminids?

the Geminid meteor shower is active every December, as Earth travels through a trail of debris from the small asteroid 3200 Phaethon. It is one of the biggest showers of the year, delivering over 120 meteors per hour at its peak.

Geminids are bright and fast, and they are often yellow in color. According to EarthSky, they enter Earth’s atmosphere at around 80,000 miles per hour.

According to NASA, the Geminids produce a reliable number of meteors each year. They are expected to be even more dazzling this year as the peak of the shower coincides with a near new moon.

The Geminids, which began to appear in the mid-1800s, seem to radiate closely from the constellation Gemini, the “Twins,” but meteors can appear in any part of the sky.

Most meteors come from comets, but Geminids are unique in that they originate from an asteroid. NASA astronomers believe the mysterious asteroid 3200 Phaethon, discovered on October 11, 1983, could be a “dead comet” or a “rock comet” – scientists aren’t quite sure how to classify it due to its orbit shaped like a comet and its unusual meteors.

How to look at the Geminids

Due to the near-new moon, the sky will be even darker than usual, which means that no moonlight will block the view of the meteors, giving sky watchers the chance to see the meteors. maximum. The best time to see meteors, which are visible across the world, is at night and before dawn.

The peak of the rain is on the night of December 13 to the morning of December 14, but meteor activity will still be strong the days before and after.

It’s possible to spot meteors in the Northern Hemisphere all night long, with activity peaking around 2 a.m. local time when the constellation is highest in the sky. In the southern hemisphere, observation is best after midnight.

In addition, “this shower is considered to be one of the best opportunities for young viewers since this shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m.,” says NASA.

As always, the best place to see a meteor shower is an open, dark place away from the bright city lights. Lie on your back with your feet pointed south, and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.

And don’t forget to be prepared for freezing temperatures – bring a blanket!