The Geminid meteor shower is the favorite of many astronomers. In this beautiful astrological event, shooting stars appear to originate from the Gemini constellation.
Any space lover or even a casual stargazer will not want to miss this meteor shower. Before you mark your calendar, there are some things you will need to know in order to get the most out of the shower.
Why You Should Watch the Geminid Meteor Shower
There are countless meteor showers taking place year-round. What’s so special about this one? Why is it most astronomers’ favorite?
To start with, it’s reliable compared with other showers. At its highest point, there are about 120 meteors an hour. To put that in perspective, the Leonids and Taurids showers produce at most 15 meteors an hour at their peak.
When To View
The Geminids peak is from December 13-14 this year. It’s active much longer than that. You can see it from the last few weeks of November up to the end of December.
The best time to view the shower is after the sun sets but you’ll have to compete with the brightness of the waxing moon. The Gibbous moon is unique because it is visible early in the evening.
This particular meteor shower is bright and will have a yellowish hue. The moon will not interfere with your view too much.
Where You Can Watch
In general, find the Gemini constellation in the sky and the meteors appear to shoot out from it. More specifically, the meteor shower is visible from any location in the Northern Hemisphere.
Just because you can see it doesn’t mean you have optimal viewing. People who live in large cities with a lot of light pollution will see far fewer meteors than those in rural areas.
Dark parks make for great spots for viewing the Geminid meteor shower. As a plus, you’ll find yourself among other star enthusiasts.
How to Watch the Shower
After choosing the perfect viewing spot, you should get comfy. Bring some blankets and dress weather-appropriate. This shower occurs in winter after all.
Bringing reclining camp chairs is another great idea. Looking up at the sky isn’t hard work, but after a while, it hurts. Laying down is good at first and for children is fine, but the ground is cold and hard.
Telescopes
The shower is bright enough to see with the naked eye. That doesn’t mean a telescope won’t allow you to see more.
You don’t have to spend a fortune for enhanced viewing of the meteor shower. Find the best telescopes under 200 dollars.
Make Plans to View the Geminid Shower
Now that you know all the important details, you can start planning to see the shower. This is one of the most reliable showers, so you can plan a vacation around it without worrying about being disappointed.
It’s a beautiful event that you won’t want to miss!
Visit our travel page to learn all you need to know about traveling before booking a trip to see the Geminid meteor shower.