One of the ‘best meteor showers’ of 2024 peaks this week, NASA says. How to view it in GA
A meteor shower that NASA and other experts call the “strongest” and “best” of the year is happening very soon.
Here’s what to know about the nighttime light show, when it peaks and tips for viewing.
What and when is the Geminid meteor shower?
According to Space.com experts, the Geminid meteor shower comes from the debris of the asteroid called Phaethon, rather than debris from a comet. Geminids are a part of “the constellation Gemini,” which produces “bright and ‘intensely colored,’” meteors. Although the meteors won’t have long tails, they can be seen in both the northern and southern hemispheres if sky conditions are right.
It’ll be one of the strongest showers this year, “because the individual meteors are bright, and they come fast and furious,” said experts.
So, when is it visible?
While the shower has been visible since mid-November, it “peaks after midnight in the early morning of December 14th,” said NASA. Some fainter meteors might be washed out by the full moon, but most of them will be bright, especially on peak night.
The peak time for viewing will be around 2 a.m. your local time.
Tips for viewing the Geminid shower
According to EarthSky, “Under a dark sky with no moon, you might catch 120 Geminid meteors per hour.” Here are some tips for viewing the Geminids:
Get in a dark spot, with no lights around and an open sky.
Be sure to give yourself at least an hour (or more) of observing time. It takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark.
Special equipment? None needed. Maybe bring a sleeping bag to stay warm. A thermos with a warm drink and a snack are always welcome. Plan to sprawl back in a hammock, lawn chair, pile of hay or blanket on the ground. Lie back in comfort, and look upward. The meteors will appear in all parts of the sky.
Avoid looking at your cell phone if you get bored. The bright screen can throw a wrench in your efforts to adjust your night vision.
Are you planning to view the meteor shower? Let us know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com.
