from Old Farmer's Almanac - www.almanac.com
WHEN IS THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER?
The Geminids occur every year from about December 4 to 16, peaking the night of December 13 into the morning of December 14, 2020. This is the shower’s “maximum”—the time when the most meteors fall per hour. Given that the Geminid meteor shower is the most active shower of the year, expect to see an average of 75 meteors per hour during the Geminids’ peak! The show typically starts as early as 9 P.M., peaks around 2 A.M., and lasts into the morning hours of the next day.
In 2020, we have an even more spectacular show to look forward to, as the New Moon on December 14 graces us with extra-dark skies that will make stars and meteors truly pop.
Get more information on our Meteor Shower Calendar page.
WHAT IS THE GEMINID METEOR SHOWER?
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the most active and reliable meteor showers of the year! They streak through the sky every minute or two all night.
It is unique because the meteors are visible all night long, since the constellation Gemini arises just an hour or two after nightfall. Most meteor showers require you to wait until midnight or pre-dawn for the best viewing.
The constellation Gemini is the radiant of the Geminid meteor shower, which means that it is the meteor shower’s point of origin. The Geminid meteors will appear to fall away from the constellation Gemini.
Geminid meteors can be seen all night long because Gemini rises so early, though Gemini is at its highest point (offering optimal viewing) around 2 A.M. However, because the sun sets so early in December, the meteor shower is usually in full swing by 9 P.M.
WHAT IS A METEOR?
Meteors occur when the Earth rushes through a stream of dust and debris left behind by a passing comet. When the bits strike the Earth’s upper atmosphere, friction with the air causes each particle to heat and burn up. We see the result as a meteor. Learn more about meteor showers.
Interestingly, Geminid meteors didn’t seem to be associated with a comet until recently. The Geminid meteor shower was thought to be caused by an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, which was first detected by NASA in 1983. The odd part of this is that asteroids don’t disintegrate in the same way that comets do to produce meteor showers. Phaethon has therefore been reclassified as an extinct comet that has lost its outer covering. This helps explain why the Geminids are so bright. They’re little pieces of mostly rocky material which take longer to burn up as they fall into the atmosphere, whereas most meteor showers are caused by the softer, icier debris from comets.
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