WASHINGTON – One of the best and brightest celestial displays of the year is nearing its peak this week.

The Geminids, an annual meteor shower that takes center stage around mid-December, is expected to peak Friday evening, December 13, through Saturday morning, December 14, 2024.

At peak activity and clear skies, up to 120 meteors per hour are visible. According to NASA, under good conditions you can even see a meteor every minute.

However, conditions are slightly less favorable for stargazers this year as the Geminids peak at a near-full moon, reducing the visibility of the normally bright and colorful meteors.

According to NASA, stargazers may want to be on their guard as the meteors may still be spotted a week before the Geminids reach their peak.

Most meteors tend to appear colorless or white, but the Geminids often display a greenish hue, according to NASA. According to the space agency, it is considered “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.”

The Geminids will be visible around the world and are best viewed at night and before dawn, according to NASA.

As with all meteor showers, favorable weather conditions must be present to get the best view of the celestial spectacle. Unlike last year, the near-full moon on the peak night in 2024 could wash out some meteors.

The Geminid meteor shower will peak after midnight on Friday and into the early hours of Saturday.

The number of meteors observed increases throughout the night, with some of the best meteor rates occurring around midnight and into the dawn hours.

NASA recommends finding a location away from city lights and bringing a sleeping bag or blanket, depending on winter temperatures in your area.

For the best view, lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and look up. Don’t worry if you don’t spot meteors right away, as it can take up to half an hour for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Meteors appear to come from the constellation Gemini, which is where they get their name. However, NASA suggests that viewers should focus on more than just this constellation, as meteors can be seen everywhere in the night sky.

The point in the sky where the meteors appear to come from is called the radiant. These “spotters” are constellations named as a guide for stargazers to determine which meteor shower they are observing. It is important to note that these constellations are not the source of the meteors.

The Geminids, distinguished from other meteor showers by their bright, colorful streaks, come from a different source.

Most meteor showers come from comets, but the Geminids come from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. The small asteroid was discovered in 1983 by astronomer Fred Whipple and named after a Greek mythological figure who drove the sun god’s chariot.

However, Phaethon’s status as an asteroid is in question, as NASA says it could be a “dead comet” or a “rock comet” – an asteroid that gets so close to the sun that the heat burns dusty pieces.

Whether comet or asteroid, the Geminids originate from Phaethon and are the reason for the annual celestial event that fills the night with bright, colorful streaks.