MAIN Science Astronomy & Aerospace Meteor showers Geminids

More meteor shower guides -> Leonids | Perseids | Orionids

The Geminid meteor shower is named after the constellation Gemini, which is located in roughly the same point of the night sky where the Geminid meteor shower appears to originate from. In late autumn or early winter, that means viewing the spectacular light show with eyes pointed straight up in the night sky.

Geminids are pieces of debris from 3200 Phaethon, basically a rocky skeleton of a comet that lost most of it outer covering of ice after too many close encounters with the sun. Each December, Earth passes through the debris cloud left by the comet as sand-sized specks enter the earth's atmosphere producing a spectacular show of "falling stars."

When and where to look for Geminids 2012

Beginning in early December, the Geminid meteor shower grows in intensity to fnally reach its zenith on the night of December 13 and continue overnight into the early morning hours. The predicted peak is just after midnight on December 14.

Unlke last year's almost full moon that obscured much of the action, an early holiday season gift is in store in 2012 as a new moon means optimum viewing of the final meteor shower of the year. Watch for a clear view (weather depending) of the brightest of falling stars speeding by at 140 meteors an hour - and it's all free.

In North America, Canada and US East Coast residents will have the best viewing that night into the wee hours on the 14th, but as Geminids are a "long tail" event, expect additional views growing less spectacular several days or nights before and after the peak.

While the Geminids have been comparatively a non-event in the last century, they have grown more spectacular in the recent past and this year is predicted to be no exception.

How to view Geminids

The best place to observe the Geminid meteor shower (or any meteor shower for that matter), is somewhere dark, away from light pollution, and with the moon out of the field of vision. The less light visible, the more brilliant the meteor shower will be.

Telescope or camera?

While mostly viewable to the naked eye, the annual Geminid meteor show may be in any year partially obstructed by the moon, clouds or night mist, so amateur astronomers might want to carry along a pair of binoculars or a camera with a telescopic lens. Even on clear nights, some kind of viewing aid may come in handy for catching sight of even the faintest of falling stars, aptly named "telescopic" meteors. On super clear nights, experts advise to forget the telescope and simply ... look up!

For photographing the annual event, a digital camera mounted on a tripod helps to steady the images that swiftly move across the sky. A quick trigger finger also helps, but even random clicks during the height of Geminid "prime-time" will also guarantee that you'll catch something. Be sure to have the camera focused on infinity and, if your camera permits, leave the shutter open for several minutes for the most spectacular photographic effects.

More about Geminid meteor showers around the Web:

EarthSky's Meteor Shower Guide for 2012 - With historical details and current best-viewing guide date and times for this year's major celestial events.

Geminids - Wikipedia - Extensive background facts and historical information on Geminid sightings through the centuries, with photos and illustrations, related references and resources.

Meteors: A Primer - Brief but informative overview of common terms that help identify various sizes and types of meteors.