Geminids: How To Watch The 'Best Meteor Shower Of The Year'

One of the best meteor showers of the year will peak this weekend, so those who would like to catch a glimpse of it should bundle up and get ready for a spectacular show.

The Geminids are active from Dec. 4 to 17 this year but it will peak from Sunday evening to early Monday morning. As NASA explained, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the most dependable meteor showers. In fact, this year's event is coinciding with the new moon, making the skies just a little bit darker and better for viewing Geminids' impressive spectacle. As such, the peak could produce up to 150 meteors per hour.

NASA even described the upcoming Geminids as the "best meteor shower of the year," noting that "realistically," those in the Northern Hemisphere could likely see 60 meteors per hour.

According to the agency, those in the Northern Hemisphere will have a good viewing opportunity the entire night, with the activity expected to peak some time around 2 a.m. local time. For the Southern Hemisphere, the activity will peak after midnight.

"Sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere can see Geminids starting around 7:30 – 8:00 p.m. local time on Dec. 13, with rate of meteors increasing as 2 a.m. approaches," NASA said. "In the Southern hemisphere, good rates will be seen between midnight and dawn local time on Dec. 14. Geminid watchers who observe from midnight to 4 a.m. should catch the most meteors."

Although the Geminids are named after the Gemini constellation because that's where they appear to radiate from, they can actually appear from any part of the sky, the American Meteor Society (AMS) explained. This means that skywatchers won't need to focus on the Gemini constellation to spot them. They can simply lie down and watch the show, which the AMS said could even produce colorful fireballs in the hues of bright green, orange or yellow.

However, having Gemini in the field of view while watching the sky event would also be useful for skywatchers who wish to identify if the meteor they are seeing is Geminid or not. After all, the Geminids won't be the only meteors to show up during the peak, and they will appear to radiate from other constellations including Monoceros, Orion and Hydra.

As the AMS explained, the Geminids will provide over 90% of the meteors on the night of the peak and they can be identified by where they radiate from. The other meteors that won't appear to radiate from Gemini will likely be from other minor meteor showers.

As always, it's advisable to find a place away from artificial lights when viewing the meteor shower as these can obstruct the viewing experience. It's best to find a location with a wide view of the sky and to bring a blanket or lounge chair to sit or lie down on since such events tend to take time and a good glimpse of the event could take about an hour or two.

"For the best viewing, find a safe location away from bright city lights, lie flat on the ground with your feet pointing south and look up," NASA advised.

Skywatchers should also wear proper clothing and bring blankets that will keep them warm as it may get chilly. Patience is also important when trying to view these events since, as the AMS explained, the meteors are distributed randomly in space. This means that there may be moments of peak activity and moments when there will be little activity.

It's also good to remember that the eyes need to take some time, perhaps about 20 to 30 minutes, before they adjust to the darkness. This means that those who don't immediately see the Geminids shouldn't get discouraged. Looking at a cellphone screen could also obstruct night vision, NASA said, so it's wise to avoid getting at peek of cellphone screens when trying to watch a meteor shower.

Overall, skywatchers could be in for a treat this weekend, as the Geminids are expected to provide a spectacular show.

For those who will miss the event and those who won't be able to witness it because of the weather in their area, there are still chances to view the meteor shower in the evenings even after the peak. They might not be as spectacular but they will still be good chances to catch the reliable Geminids. As the AMS explained, the evening after the peak could also produce an impressive show.