The Geminid Meteor Shower, which occurs every December, is active again this year, lasting until December 17. One of the most popular among skywatchers, Geminid Meteor Shower will peak on
the intervening night of December 13-14, making those hours the perfect time for watching.
What are the Geminid meteors?
The debris from a celestial object known as 3200 Phaethon causes the Geminid meteor showers.
Based on observations of small amounts of material leaving Phaethon's surface, some scientists believe it is an extinct comet, however, because of its orbit and resemblance to the main-belt
asteroid Pallas, some astronomers believe it is an asteroid.
Proponents of 3200 Phaethon as an extinct comet have relied on observations of a small quantity of material leaving the object's surface to support their argument.
According to Nasa, Geminid meteors are different from other meteor showers because they are denser and get as close as 46.5 kilometres above Earth's surface before burning up, whereas
other meteor showers, such as the Perseids, are known to burn far higher.
The best spot for watching
The Geminid meteor shower can be seen by skywatchers all throughout the world, but those in the Northern Hemisphere get the best view. As they enter the Southern Hemisphere and proceed closer
to the South Pole, the altitude of the Gemini radiant gets lower.
Weather and moon phase are also important factors in determining meteor shower visibility at any time of year. The fainter meteors are masked by the moonlight, making it difficult for skywatchers
to notice the less bright ones.
Best time to watch
The meteor shower will last for the entire week until December 17, but it is likely to peak on the nights of December 13 and 14, giving it the ideal opportunity to see the magnificent meteor
showers in all their glory.
The showers will be visible to the naked eye, and you won't need a telescope or binoculars to see them. In fact, any type of magnifying medium is not recommended because it would obstruct
the vast range of view enough to really appreciate the meteor shower.
Tips
Make sure you're in a location with clear skies for the best viewing experience, which means getting out of the city to a campsite would be perfect.
The ideal time to see the shower would be after 2:00 a.m. when the Moon sets in most parts of the planet.