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Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks Dec. 13–14 With Predawn Burst

Best views come late at night toward Gemini, with moonlight and cloud cover determining visibility.

Overview

  • The shower is active December 7–17, according to Stiftung Planetarium Berlin.
  • Highest rates are forecast for the early hours of December 14, making the night of December 13–14 the prime window.
  • Observers should scan the constellation Gemini, which rises in the northeast after dusk and climbs high by midnight, with bright Jupiter near Castor and Pollux as a guide.
  • Moonlight remains a wild card, with one expert citing a waning Moon rising around 2:30 a.m. that should cause little disturbance while other reports caution that a fairly bright Moon could reduce faint sightings.
  • For the best chance, watch in the second half of the night from a spot away from city lights and dress warmly, noting that strong years have produced roughly 150–200 meteors per hour under ideal, clear skies.