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Geminids to Peak This Weekend With Best Views Late Saturday Into Early Sunday

Expect bright, slow meteors from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, with how many you see dependent on truly dark skies.

Overview

  • The shower is already active and is forecast to hit its maximum on the night of December 13 into the early hours of December 14.
  • Under ideal dark-sky conditions, meteor organizations project up to about 150 meteors per hour, while NASA expects roughly 40 to 50 per hour.
  • Viewing is best after about 10 p.m. local time on December 13 through predawn on December 14, and the meteors are visible to the naked eye worldwide.
  • The apparent radiant lies in the constellation Gemini, but meteors can streak across any part of the sky and often show bright yellow trails with occasional fireballs.
  • NASA advises choosing a dark location, dressing for the cold, reclining to take in a wide sky, and allowing roughly 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt.