From a total solar eclipse to bright auroras and comet sightings, 2024 has been amazing for stargazers around the world. Now, as the year is coming to a close, it is going out with a bang. The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most anticipated astronomical events of the year, is right around the corner.
This year, the Geminid meteor shower will peak on Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14. While thrilling, the meteor shower comes with a challenge this year. Since the peak will take place under a nearly full moon, visibility will be reduced. However, the brightest meteors may still be seen with the naked eye, as Geminid meteors often appear vivid and intensely colored in the night sky.
According to the American Meteor Society, the meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini. These will be high in the northern hemisphere sky from 10 p.m. local time onward. Since the Moon will be playing against those planning to catch the meteor shower, the best option is to look for a place with clear and transparent skies, facing the darkest section of the sky with the Moon at your back.
Astronomy lovers have the near-Earth asteroid 3200 Phaethon to thank for this yearly phenomenon. This asteroid may have collided with another object many years ago, leaving a trail of fragments that our planet passes through every December. The dazzling streaks of light are the result of these leftover particles that ignite upon entering the atmosphere.
If you don't get the chance to see the Geminid meteor shower this weekend, you've still got a shot, as it will be active until around December 24. While you're out staring at the sky, make sure to also look for the Winter Triangle—made up of Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse; it is a major feature that marks the arrival of the winter skies. Here's to a 2025 full of great astronomical events!
Sources: Meteor Showers 2024; Mysterious 3200 Phaethon: Parent to the Geminids; Asteroid’s Comet-Like Tail Is Not Made of Dust, Solar Observatories Reveal; The Winter Triangle
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