Snowflakes won’t be the only tiny particles brushing through the night sky in mid-December. Falling ice crystals will be accompanied by dozens of dazzling meteors from the annual Geminid meteor shower. Dubbed “the year’s best meteor shower,” the showstopping display will peak the evening of Dec. 13 into Dec. 14.
The Geminid meteor shower graces skies around the globe each December, without fail. The show is more reliable than snow for some of us (residents in Washington, D.C., can relate, after a lack of snow last year). The presentation started in late November and will wrap up on Christmas Eve, according to the American Meteor Society. Interestingly, the show will peak and end on the same dates as last year.
The moon won’t act as a spoiler during the peak of the shower because it will illuminate at 1 percent the evening of Dec. 13, according to the American Meteor Society. That means darker skies for viewing.
One of the best parts? Nearly everyone, regardless of where on the planet you live, will get to see the show. But viewers in the Northern Hemisphere will get a better show and have to brace for colder weather.
Here’s everything you need to know about the greatest meteor show:
What is the Geminid meteor shower?
Seeing meteors in December is dependable because of Earth’s unswerving orbit around the sun. Each year, the Earth bulldozes through trails of debris left by comets and asteroids. The rice-size meteors, zipping at nearly 21 miles per second, burn up as they encounter the Earth’s outer atmosphere, which creates colorful streaks throughout the sky. Don’t be shocked if you see streaks of purple, green and amber — the Geminids are known for serving a pop of color.
Just like with fireworks, the chemical composition of meteors determines the color, said Noah Petro, a scientist with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project. Iron causes yellow, sodium causes orange, magnesium causes blue, and calcium causes purple.
The Geminids feature such a bright display because of the size of the debris involved — the Geminids have some of the largest debris of any meteor shower.
“The larger you get, the brighter it is because it’s just more stuff to burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere,” Petro said.
What makes this different from other meteor showers?
The sheer number of slinging meteors solidifies the Geminids as the best show each year. Depending on weather and location, over 100 meteors can be seen per hour — but that wasn’t always the case. During the mid-1800s, when the Geminids first appeared, only 10 to 20 meteors per hour were visible, according to NASA.
There’s a chance the variability in number could depend on 3200 Phaethon’s 524-day orbit. (3200 Phaethon is the dominant, orbiting asteroid of the Geminids.) The Earth passing through a denser field of dust left by Phaethon could explain why people see more meteors some years, said Laurence Garvie, a curator for Arizona State University’s Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies.
“The implications of this is, [the Geminids] could get much better over the coming decades or it could fade out again,” Garvie said.
Petro cautioned that even if someone is seeing over 100 meteors an hour, that doesn’t mean there will consistently be one or two per minute; some time can go by without any.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t see hundreds per hour. Different conditions impact meteor visibility. To NASA ambassador Tony Rice, expecting to see a few dozen meteors in an hour is the most realistic.
“You've got the opportunity to see a couple of dozen and you can increase your chances by going out a little bit later and making sure you're at a dark site,” Rice said.
What is the best time to watch?
Since the Geminids originate from the constellation Gemini, which rises near sunset during this time of the year, skywatchers could start to see “shooting stars” clearly around 10 p.m., Rice said. But the best time to view is between midnight and 2 a.m.
“We’ll have a nice dark sky that will show meteors. The fact that it’s so close to the new moon means less light pollution,” Rice said.
If you can’t wish upon the shooting stars on Dec. 13, don’t fret! The show will go on for over a week after the peak — there will just be fewer meteors to see.
Viewing tips from our experts
- Look for darkness — this may be in a rural location, or if you can’t get to a rural location, look to the darkest part of the sky wherever you are.
- Patience — just because there is an average count doesn’t mean that you’ll see that many meteors per hour.
- Leave your phone inside — looking at a device before turning to the sky may ruin your innate night vision.
- Get comfortable — bundle up and drink something warm if necessary while you wait for the show.
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