There’s a lot to look forward to in December. Obviously, the holiday season is the main event, with many folks spending their evenings admiring Christmas lights, warming up by the fire, and drinking hot chocolate. But there’s one unique event in December that’s the real star of the show, (pun intended) and that’s the Geminid meteor shower. The sky will put on its very own light show, and you won’t want to miss it!
Here’s what you need to know about the meteor shower:
Andy Sun/Google The overall duration of the Geminid meteor shower is from November 19, 2022, until December 24, 2022, but it will peak in the early hours on December 14, so that’s when you’ll want to be outside. It peaks around 2 a.m., so if you’re not usually up at that hour, set an alarm. We promise it’s worth it!
You’ll want to get away from as much light pollution as you can, but there will be one big bright light that you just can’t escape.
Hadley Paul Garland/Flickr The moon will be in a waning gibbous stage, meaning it will be about 70% illuminated, which isn’t ideal, but that’s how it goes! Don’t worry, you still have a great chance of seeing the shower.
Geminids is one of the most incredible meteor showers, with up to 120 meteors per hour during peak optimal conditions.
Matt Kazmierski/Getty Images Since the moon is going to be in everyone’s way, don’t expect that many. Realistically, we are looking at closer to 50 meteors per hour, but you never know! You’ll want to be outside around 2 a.m. for the most optimal conditions. Set your alarms and put on a pot of coffee! It’s not every day (or night) that you’ll get the opportunity to see such a sky show.
So what makes the Geminids special?
Elen11/Getty Images Aside from being one of the biggest and brightest meteor showers in the Northern Hemisphere (rivaling Perseids which occurs in August), Geminids is unique in that its parent is an asteroid rather than a comet. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through streams of debris that are left behind by comets and asteroids (their parents). Shooting stars are the result of one of these pieces of debris colliding with Earth’s atmosphere and burning up. Geminid’s parent is an asteroid with the super cool name of 3200 Phaethon. The parent of Perseids, the popular meteor shower every August, is 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a comet.
What’s the difference between an asteroid and a comet? Basically, an asteroid is a solid rock and a comet is made up of ice and dust, with a little rock mixed in. Astronomers tend to give comets the nickname “dirty snowball.”
Of course, the one unknown factor that can make or break a skywatching show is the weather.
Cedar Wings/Getty Images Hopefully, there won’t be any clouds obstructing the view!
Bundle up and grab a thermos, because it’s going to be cold.
NASA HQ Photo/Flickr Luckily, Michigan has several dark sky parks where you’ll have a great view.
You don’t need any special gear to be able to watch the meteor shower.
Shannon Dizmang/Flickr Just find yourself a nice clear patch of sky away from city lights and enjoy!
Where will you be watching from? If you’re on the hunt for a special spot to view the Geminid meteor shower in Michigan, check out this dark sky park in Michigan.
Andy Sun/Google
The overall duration of the Geminid meteor shower is from November 19, 2022, until December 24, 2022, but it will peak in the early hours on December 14, so that’s when you’ll want to be outside. It peaks around 2 a.m., so if you’re not usually up at that hour, set an alarm. We promise it’s worth it!
Hadley Paul Garland/Flickr
The moon will be in a waning gibbous stage, meaning it will be about 70% illuminated, which isn’t ideal, but that’s how it goes! Don’t worry, you still have a great chance of seeing the shower.
Matt Kazmierski/Getty Images
Since the moon is going to be in everyone’s way, don’t expect that many. Realistically, we are looking at closer to 50 meteors per hour, but you never know! You’ll want to be outside around 2 a.m. for the most optimal conditions. Set your alarms and put on a pot of coffee! It’s not every day (or night) that you’ll get the opportunity to see such a sky show.
Elen11/Getty Images
Aside from being one of the biggest and brightest meteor showers in the Northern Hemisphere (rivaling Perseids which occurs in August), Geminids is unique in that its parent is an asteroid rather than a comet. Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through streams of debris that are left behind by comets and asteroids (their parents). Shooting stars are the result of one of these pieces of debris colliding with Earth’s atmosphere and burning up. Geminid’s parent is an asteroid with the super cool name of 3200 Phaethon. The parent of Perseids, the popular meteor shower every August, is 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a comet.
What’s the difference between an asteroid and a comet? Basically, an asteroid is a solid rock and a comet is made up of ice and dust, with a little rock mixed in. Astronomers tend to give comets the nickname “dirty snowball.”
Cedar Wings/Getty Images
Hopefully, there won’t be any clouds obstructing the view!
NASA HQ Photo/Flickr
Luckily, Michigan has several dark sky parks where you’ll have a great view.
Shannon Dizmang/Flickr
Just find yourself a nice clear patch of sky away from city lights and enjoy!
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