The Geminid meteor shower is reaching its peak this evening! This is how you can experience one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most intense meteor showers of the year, peaks this evening, December 13th.

Famous for its bright, colorful meteors Geminids promise a spectacle as Earth flies through the debris of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

Under optimal conditions, Geminids can produce up to 120 animals Meteors per hour, but this year’s near-full moon will likely wash out fainter meteors and reduce visibility. However, when the skies are clear, it’s worth braving the cold to catch a glimpse of this heavenly delight.

What awaits you tonight

While moonlight can hinder some meteor viewing efforts, brighter meteors and the occasional fireball can shine so brightly that they are still visible. Geminid meteors appear to radiate from there Gemini constellation However, don’t look directly at Gemini to spot the meteors, as the shooting stars are visible in the night sky. Make sure you look around Constellations as meteors closer to the radiant tend to have shorter orbits and are more difficult to detect.

Graphic shows the constellation Gemini in the sky to the left of Orion with meteors that appear to come from Gemini.

The Geminid meteor shower appears to radiate from the constellation Gemini. (Image credit: Daisy Dobrijevic/Future)

Best time to watch

Peak Geminid activity typically occurs in the late evening and early morning hours. The best viewing time is around 2 a.m. local time, when the constellation Gemini, the constellation radiator, is at its highest point in the sky.

You can also watch the Geminid meteor shower live online from the comfort of your own home, courtesy of astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project. The livestream is scheduled to begin on December 13th at 6:00 p.m. EST (2300 GMT), weather permitting.

Top tips for watching

Night sky live

Night sky graphic showing the Milky Way at the top of the circle with a pair of cartoon eyes in the center of the image. — (Image credit: Daisy Dobrijevic/Canva)

Stay up to date on what you can see tonight with our night sky live blog.

You don’t need any special equipment to see meteors. Dress warmly, bring blankets, and perhaps a thermos of hot chocolate to make the experience even more enjoyable.

Don’t worry if clouds or other factors stop your meteor hunting efforts this evening. The Geminid meteor shower will be active until December 21st, so you may still be able to spot a few meteors in the coming days, especially in the hours before dawn the moon starts earlier. To calculate sunrise and moonrise times for your location, check out this Custom Sunrise Sunset Calculator.

If you’d like more advice on photographing the Geminids, check out our guide to photographing meteors and meteor showers. If you need imaging gear, consider our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.

Editor’s note: If you capture a stunning view of the Geminid meteor shower or other night sky view that you would like to share with Space.com for a possible story or gallery, send images and comments to: [email protected].

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The Geminid meteor shower is reaching its peak this evening! This is how you can experience one of the most beautiful meteor showers of the year

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