Overview
- Activity peaks overnight December 13–14, with the best viewing from late night into pre-dawn, especially around 2–4 a.m. local time.
- Forecasts from NASA and meteor groups call for roughly 100–120 meteors per hour under dark skies, with higher counts possible in ideal conditions.
- A crescent moon of about 25% illumination rises after roughly 2–3 a.m., preserving dark skies for much of the peak window.
- The shower originates from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, yielding bright, sometimes multi‑coloured meteors and occasional fireballs.
- Viewers under clouds or city lights can watch livestreams, including a planned feed from Italy’s Virtual Telescope Project.