Night owls are in for a surprise tonight as the Geminids meteor shower, known by NASA as “one of the best and most reliable” meteor showers, returns to the sky.
The meteor shower occurs every year for several weeks. While it started this year on Nov. 19, it will peak tonight into tomorrow morning, with approximately 120 meteors lighting up the night time sky.
NASA always has high praise for the night time spectacle, sharing that the Geminids is “one of the major meteor showers of the year.”
The meteors come from the 3200 Phaethon asteroid, not the Gemini constellation from which they get their name. The asteroid orbits the sun every 1.4 years, flying 78,000 miles per hour, NASA shared.
The predicted peak time to see the asteroids will be at 8 a.m. EST on Wednesday, meaning those with early sunrises most likely won’t be able to see the show. However, the meteor shower will begin on Tuesday night.
It will also be difficult to see the 120 meteors, as NASA said that “perfect conditions” will be needed to see them all. Another reason the meteors will be tough to see is the moon, which is in a waning gibbous phase.
However, not all hope is lost, as NASA shared earlier this month that “The Geminids are so bright that this should still be a good show.”
To have perfect conditions, onlookers will want to find a spot outside that is away from lights.
“Lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible,” NASA says. “After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt, and you will begin to see meteors. Be patient – the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.”
Depending on conditions and locations, 30 to 40 meteors will be visible every hour throughout the night. The space rocks are easy to miss, but NASA said that avoiding staring at the Gemini constellation can help.
“Tracing a meteor backwards to the constellation Gemini can determine if you caught a Geminid,” NASA said.
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