Heads up! It’s time for the Geminid meteor shower, one of the best shows of the year

The Geminid meteor shower, often described as one of the best meteor showers of the year, is currently underway with its peak expected on the night of December 13-14. However, there is a slight hiccup this year due to the bright light of the almost full moon. Despite this, there is still a good chance of catching some bright fireballs in the sky.

Meteor showers like the Geminids occur when Earth passes through debris left behind by comets or asteroids. In the case of the Geminids, the debris comes from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. As these particles burn up in the atmosphere, they create streaks of light in the sky, commonly referred to as shooting stars. What sets the Geminids apart is that they often drop meteorites, pieces of the parent object that reach the ground. While no one has successfully found a Geminid meteorite to date, they are believed to be out there waiting to be discovered.

One unique aspect of the Geminid meteor shower is that many of the meteors reach the moon. In fact, the Geminids are known to impact the moon more frequently than any other meteor shower. If the conditions are just right, observers may witness a lunar impact flash from the Geminids every 20 minutes. This phenomenon is made possible because the moon lacks a thick atmosphere that would cause the debris to burn up, unlike on Earth.

The Geminids are known to produce upwards of 150 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, making it a highly anticipated event for skywatchers. While December nights may be cold and cloudy, it is still worth checking the weather forecast in your area for the night of the peak. If the skies are not clear on December 13-14, the Geminids tend to be active in the days leading up to and after the peak, so there are still opportunities to catch a glimpse of the meteor shower.

To make the most of the Geminid meteor shower, bundle up in warm clothing, find a dark sky site away from city lights, and simply look up. You don’t need to focus on the Gemini constellation, which is the radiant point of the shower. Keep your eyes peeled for fast-moving meteors, as you wouldn’t want to miss a spectacular fireball streaking across the sky. Additionally, you can monitor meteor shower activity on websites like the one provided by Western University’s Meteor Physics Group and the Global Meteor Network, which tracks the hourly meteor count.

Overall, despite the moon’s interference, the Geminid meteor shower promises to be a dazzling celestial event that astronomy enthusiasts won’t want to miss. So mark your calendars, brave the cold, and prepare for a night of meteor magic in the December sky.