Calling all early morning risers and astrophiles! Before sunrise on Friday, the Geminids meteor shower will reach peak activity, Space.com reports. The light display, which occurs every year around mid-December, is known for its yellow-greenish tinted hues. In some parts of the country, stargazers can even see a new meteor shoot across the night sky every minute, says the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). You won’t get a chance to witness this celestial event for another 12 months, so set your clocks now.
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The Geminids will be at their most active on Friday.
The Geminids are already active but are expected to reach peak activity level on Dec. 13, reports Space.com. They’ll appear in “bright and intensely colored” flashes of yellow in the night sky, though they aren’t known for their speed.
In perfect viewing conditions, stargazers can see up to 120 meteors per hour. On rare occasions, the Geminids produce blazing fireballs. Their explosions occur at exceptionally bright magnitudes (even brighter than the planet Venus!), making them easy to spot in the sky.
Technically, Geminid gazing is already in session. But their peak performance is scheduled for the very early morning hours on Friday. In some parts of the country, the Geminids might also be visible on Dec. 14, too.
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How to view the Geminids
Most meteor showers can be viewed by the naked human eye without the presence of tall buildings or condensed trees, and a bright night sky. But last month’s waning gibbous moon made the Leonids meteor shower less visible than usual. Unfortunately, this month’s Geminids meteor shower could face a similar problem.
This weekend the moon will reach near-peak luminosity, casting a bright light across the celestial heavens—and disrupting meteor shower viewing parties. According to Space.com, the best time to catch the Geminids in action will be during the predawn hours of Dec. 12 and 13.
“That’s when the constellation Gemini (from where the meteors get their name) will be standing high in the northwest sky,” explains the online publication.
In these major cities, the best viewing times on Friday, Dec. 13, are as follows:
- Boston: between 5:13 a.m. and 5:23 a.m.
- New York City: between 5:20 a.m. and 5:33 a.m.
- Miami: between 5:05 a.m. and 5:36 a.m.
- Chicago: between 5:21 a.m. and 5:29 a.m.
- Denver: between 5:27 a.m. and 5:35 a.m.
- San Francisco: between 5:34 a.m. and 5:42 a.m.
- Los Angeles: between 5:06 a.m. and 5:20 a.m.
- Houston: between 5:18 a.m. and 5:43 a.m.
