“Don’t Miss the Spectacular Geminid Meteor Shower This Week!”

The annual Geminid meteor shower is set to peak this week, offering stargazers a chance to witness a spectacular display of shooting stars streaking across the night sky. The Geminids are known for their bright yellow hue and are considered one of the best and most reliable meteor showers, with an average of at least 120 meteors visible per hour during its peak, according to NASA.

This year, the Geminid meteor shower is expected to be most active late Friday and into early Saturday. Unlike other meteor showers that originate from comets, the Geminids are believed to come from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon, which orbits the sun every 1.4 years. The meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Gemini, hence the name “Geminids.”

However, astronomers are cautioning that this year’s Geminid meteor shower may not be as spectacular as usual due to the presence of a full moon, known as the Cold Moon, which will rise on Saturday. The brightness of the full moon is expected to outshine some of the shooting stars, reducing visibility by 50% to 75%. This means that stargazers in the U.S. may only see around 15 Geminids per hour, compared to the usual 120.

Despite the competition from the full moon, astronomers suggest some viewing tips for those who want to try their luck at catching a glimpse of the Geminids. The best time to view the meteor shower is during the night and predawn hours, away from city light pollution. Allowing your eyes to adjust to the darkness for 15-20 minutes can help increase sensitivity to spotting meteors.

If you miss out on this year’s Geminid meteor shower, NASA promises a better chance to see them in December 2025 when the full moon will occur earlier in the month, allowing for better visibility. In the meantime, stargazers can look forward to the Ursids meteor shower, which will peak between December 21 and 22, although the waning moon may also affect visibility.

Additionally, this is a good time to observe planets in our solar system, such as Mars, which is getting closer to Earth and will appear brighter each night with its reddish-yellow glow. With a telescope or binoculars, it may even be possible to see Saturn’s rings.

So, grab a blanket, some hot cocoa, and enjoy the celestial show as billions of year-old space rocks light up the night sky during the Geminid meteor shower.