The peak of the Geminids meteor shower is due in just over a week, but this year it might be a good idea to get there early, according to NASA.
The shower will peak from Friday, December 13 to early Saturday, December 14 – when the moon is nearly full, according to NASA. The moon’s illumination can make spotting the cosmic spectacle during peak a challenge, but bright meteors can be spotted the week before peak.
Here’s what you need to know about the Geminids meteor shower, including how to watch:
Where you can see the Geminids
Geminids meteors will be visible across the sky and around the world, according to NASA. They are best viewed in an area away from city and street lights.
Viewers – who should prepare for frigid temperatures – should lie flat on their backs with their feet facing south. Give your eyes half an hour to get used to the dark.
The shower usually starts around 9:00 or 10:00 PM local time, with the meteors best viewed at night or before sunrise.
EarthSky, an astronomy website published by experts in the field, suggests finding a way to block the moon while searching for the Geminids.
“So with a moonlit sky in 2024, you may only be able to catch the brightest meteors,” EarthSky said. “Fortunately, many of the Geminids are bright meteors. Try blocking out the moon while looking at meteors.”
What are the Geminids?
Most meteor showers come from comets, but the Geminids come from 3200 Phaethon, an asteroid. The Geminids first appeared in the mid-19th century. At the time there were 10 to 20 meteors per hour, but the shower has increased and meteors are now visible at a rate of 120 meteors per hour under perfect conditions.
Although most meteors appear colorless or white, NASA scientists say the Geminids are bright, fast and usually yellow in color. They shoot through the air at a speed of 35 kilometers per second.
Meteors are space rocks that enter Earth’s atmosphere and heat up as they fall to Earth, according to NASA. The streak of light is actually glowing, hot air.
