Overview
- Activity reaches its maximum on the nights of December 13–14, with best viewing from late evening through pre‑dawn local time.
- Forecasts cite roughly 28–34% lunar illumination during the peak, improving contrast for fainter meteors.
- In the United States, observers can start around 10 p.m. local with peak rates by midnight to 3 a.m.; Spain’s prime window is about 2–3 a.m.; Mexico’s best spans roughly 12–4 a.m. with zone-by-zone peaks at 1–3 a.m.; Argentina sees fewer meteors from about 1–4:30 a.m.
- Expected rates vary by sky darkness: about 20 per hour in suburban areas, 40–50 per hour in moderately dark sites, and up to roughly one per minute in very dark rural locations, with some outlets projecting 120–150 per hour in ideal conditions.
- The shower’s rocky source often yields bright, colorful fireballs; experts recommend wide‑field naked‑eye viewing, 20–30 minutes for dark adaptation, long‑exposure photos of 15–30 seconds, and online live streams for those under city lights.