Overview
- The shower’s maximum is forecast for the night of December 13–14, with rates up to about 150 meteors per hour under ideal dark-sky conditions.
- Activity runs roughly December 4–20, and viewing is best from late evening through pre-dawn as the radiant in Gemini climbs high.
- A waning crescent this year should provide darker skies than 2024’s moonlit maximum, improving visibility for observers.
- The Geminids originate from dust shed by the asteroid Phaethon, producing characteristically bright and sometimes colorful meteors.
- For the rest of 2025, the Perseids’ August peak is expected to be hampered by a near-full moon, while the Lyrids in April typically average about 15–20 meteors per hour.