Tonight marks the peak of one of the best meteor showers of the year.
The Geminid meteor shower – which occurs every December – peaks tonight, lighting up the sky with bright fireballs.
Under ideal conditions, the Geminids can produce more than 120 meteors visible every hour as tiny pieces of rock soar through our atmosphere and burn at breakneck speeds.
When is the best time to see the Geminid meteor shower?
The Geminids run between November 19 and December 24 this year, culminating on the night of December 13.
The meteors appear to come from the constellation Gemini, hence the name of the shower, but can be seen anywhere in the sky. This constellation will be in the sky all night, rising in the eastern sky around sunset and setting in the west near sunrise.
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The greatest abundance of meteors will be visible when Gemini is highest in the sky, which will occur around 2 a.m. today in the Northern Hemisphere.
How to best see the Geminids
NASA suggests finding a rural area away from city lights for ideal viewing because the darker the sky, the more meteors you’ll see.
Bring a blanket or recliner to avoid straining your neck, as meteors can appear in all parts of the sky.
Unfortunately, the Cold Moon falls on December 15th, which means the Moon will be almost full tonight. Light from the moon is expected to drown out most meteors, with the American Meteor Society predicting only 15 visible meteors per hour.
What is the Geminids meteor shower?
Other meteor showers, such as the Perseids and Orionids, are the result of Earth moving through the debris trail left behind by a passing comet. The Geminids, on the other hand, have a different type of source.
3200 Phaethon – which is sometimes referred to as the “stone comet” – orbits the Sun once every 1.4 years.
Tonight is the night! The Geminids, the most prolific and reliable meteor shower of the year, are at their peak. All you need to view them is a clear sky, dark surroundings and appropriate clothing for the weather. Find more tips here: https://t.co/9m5gmFBAi2 pic.twitter.com/FNw4xXBtJh
— NASA (@NASA) December 13, 2023
As Earth passes through this debris cloud, small particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds—around 79,000 mph—causing them to heat up, vaporize, and burn up due to friction with the air, creating the bright streaks of light we see as meteors.
This unique origin causes meteors to be denser and slower moving, resulting in longer and brighter trails. Geminid meteors are often bright and can display vibrant colors such as yellow, green, blue or even reddish hues due to their mineral composition.
“The unusual colors of the Geminid meteors are due to the presence of various metals in the meteoroids, such as sodium and calcium. These elements burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright and colorful streaks,” Balaji said.
