We’ve entered that time of the year when life gets so fast-paced that we sometimes forget to stop and just breathe. No matter how jam-packed your schedule is this holiday season, carve out some time to get outdoors for a bit of stargazing in Missouri. After all, the best meteor shower in Missouri is lighting up the nighttime sky right now, and you don’t want to miss it. You’ve got plenty of time to catch it, too.
Turn your eyes to the sky now through Christmas Eve for an epic nighttime show as the Geminids meteor shower makes its annual return.
Flickr/Danny Leung
Known as the brightest and most reliable meteor shower (it returns every year), the Geminids will peak overnight, at around 2 a.m., on December 13-14.
Flickr/David Shane
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t catch the meteor showers before then. On a clear night, you should be able to see as many as 120 meteors darting across the sky each hour.
Flickr/Shannon Dizmang The Geminids were first seen in the late 1800s, although back then the meteors tallied around 20 an hour.
If the name Geminids sounds familiar, that’s because the meteor was named after the Gemini constellation. However, the meteor showers aren’t just seen in the Gemini constellation. You can see them in the entire nighttime sky.
Flickr/Jason Hullinger
Geminids differ from most meteors, which are formed by comets. The Geminids, on the other hand, are believed to originate from an asteroid.
Flickr/Abraxas3D
Identifying the Geminids is quite easy. They’re usually yellow, and they travel fast, at around 22 miles per second.
Flickr/Abby Ostrom
Now that you know what you’re looking for, you’ll want to make a game plan for seeing this annual meteor shower. A dark sky park is ideal.
Flickr/l.hutton
Don’t worry, though, if you’re not near a dark sky park or area. Just find an area, perhaps a park, that’s predominately free of light pollution.
Flickr/Justin Yeh
The best vantage point for viewing the nighttime sky is by lying on the ground, so bring a blanket and bundle up. Your eyes will need around 30 minutes to get used to the darkness.
Flickr/Kiera Faye
While 2 a.m. is the ideal time to catch the peak of the Geminids, the show usually starts between 9 and 10 p.m. That gives you plenty of time each evening, beginning now, to catch the nighttime show.
Flickr/Kiera Faye
Will you check out this meteor shower in Missouri? Have you seen it in the past? Let us know in the comments! If you enjoy stargazing, plan a stay at this farm in Missouri. It boasts dark skies that are perfect for an evening of staring at the stars.
Flickr/Danny Leung
Flickr/David Shane
Flickr/Shannon Dizmang
The Geminids were first seen in the late 1800s, although back then the meteors tallied around 20 an hour.
Flickr/Jason Hullinger
Flickr/Abraxas3D
Flickr/Abby Ostrom
Flickr/l.hutton
Flickr/Justin Yeh
Flickr/Kiera Faye
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