The Geminids, considered by many to be the best annual meteor shower, will peak Wednesday and Thursday night.
The moon will be a waxing crescent and will not interfere with light pollution. Additionally, the National Weather Service is predicting mostly clear conditions, so there will be negligible cloud interference.
The shower averages about 50 meteors per hour, but you may be able to see up to 120 per hour. This rivals the summer Perseids, which produces up to 100 per hour.
The meteors will be overhead around 1 a.m., with best viewing conditions from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Read more: Wishing on a meteor shower's shooting stars | A Moment of Science
Scientists are still learning more about the origins of this meteor shower.
The Geminid meteors come from the Phaethon asteroid. This asteroid is unique for producing meteor showers, which usually originate from comets. A November study from the University of Helsinki found its meteorite debris was made of olivine, carbonates, iron sulfides and oxide minerals. It was previously believed that the meteors were dust coming off the asteroid’s tail. Scientists now believe the tail is made of sodium.
The Geminids continue through Dec. 24. Two days later, the Quadrantids, the only other shower besides the Geminids to not originate from a comet, begins. That shower can produce up to 120 meteors per hour and bright fireballs, but is often obscured by January weather.
Are you planning to take pictures of the meteor shower? Do you have photos from previous years? Send them our way at news@indianapublicmedia.org with your name and a description and we’ll add them to our website.
