Overview
- The shower reached its maximum on the nights of December 13–14, with the best rates from midnight to pre‑dawn under a waning Moon of roughly 25–28% illumination.
- Under ideal dark skies in the Northern Hemisphere, forecasts from NASA and meteor organizations expected about 120–150 meteors per hour, with fewer visible where light pollution or clouds are present.
- Southern‑hemisphere observers faced shorter windows and lower counts; guidance in Argentina pointed to roughly 20–40 meteors per hour from rural sites during the early‑morning hours.
- Region‑specific peak windows included the United States from around 10 p.m. local time with strongest activity after midnight, Mexico from 01:00–04:00 (Pacific/NW), 02:00–04:00 (Center) and 03:00–04:00 (Southeast), and Argentina from about 01:00 to 04:30.
- The Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, whose dense, metal‑rich debris produces bright, sometimes colored meteors; no equipment is needed, but dark locations, 20–30 minutes of dark adaptation, and online live streams can enhance viewing.