See The Geminid Meteor Shower Above Tennessee This December

The night sky holds so many mysteries looking up during a starry night can be so alluring. Searching the night sky covered in a blanket of stars can already be fascinating enough, but when you see a shooting star, it can be all the more exciting. Now imagine a full night sky filled with twinkling lights and a meteor shower! The Geminid meteor shower will light up the sky this December, and it is said to be the biggest and brightest show in the night sky all year.

The Geminid meteor shower is an annual event where Earth passes through the particles left from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

Stephen Rahn/ Flickr

Because the gravitational pull from Jupiter continually is moving the path of the debris closer to Earth, the show just keeps getting better each year.

Jeremy Gillard/ Flickr

This seasonal celestial event is predicted to be at its peak on December 14th, 2022.

Diana Robinson/ Flickr

We suggest you stay up late to see the show. The best viewing will start at 2 a.m., but meteors may be seen as early as 10 p.m. Allow yourself a couple of hours for your eyes to adjust so you can get the most out of this phenomenal show.

Alan Newman - An1 Photography/ Flickr

The moon is a concern this year while watching the meteor shower, so some of the finer meteors might not outshine the moon in the night sky. However, if the conditions are just right, you may be able to see up to 120 meteors per hour!

NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/ Flickr

These meteors will be different from typical “shooting stars.” They will flash bright and give off a blue hue, making for a spectacular show.

NASA HQ PHOTO/ Flickr

We suggest you make your way to one of Tennessee’s fine dark sky parks for the best viewing. The lower the light pollution, the better, and we have two great places in our state that are perfect for stargazing. So mark your calendars, bundle up, and watch this incredible event.