Geminid Meteor Shower 2014: When Is the Peak Time to Watch?

Night owls, rejoice — The Geminid meteor shower peaks during the night of Saturday, Dec. 13, and into the morning of Sunday, Dec. 14.

You may be able to catch a glimpse of meteor showers during the nighttime hours of Friday, Dec. 12, into Saturday, Dec. 13.

“The peak is typically centered at about 2 a.m. local time, no matter where you are on the globe,” according to the EarthSky website. “That’s because the constellation Gemini – radiant point of the shower – will reach its highest point for the night around 2 a.m. (your local time). As a general rule, the higher the constellation Gemini climbs into your sky, the more Geminid meteors you’re likely to see.”

The Weather

Cloudy skies are in the forecast for Friday and Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will dip below freezing, to around 26 mph.

A Matter of Moonlight

During the Geminid meteor shower peak, during the morning of Dec. 14, a last quarter moon will be visible. The EarthSky website notes that Geminids are bright so moon glare doesn’t usually pose a problem.

“If you’re watching when the radiant point is highest in the sky – around 2 a.m. – you’ll be watching in a moonlit sky,” according to the EarthSky website. “In that case, try situating yourself in the shadow of a barn or other structure, to block the moonlight.”

Viewing Tips From EarthSky

• Dress warmly
• It takes 20 minutes for your eyes to adapt so give yourself an hour outside
• Recline on a lawn chair so you can easily watch the sky

NASA reports that the Geminids are a relatively young meteor shower, with the first sightings occurring in the 1830s with rates of about 20 per hour.

Over the decades the rates have increased, regularly spawning between 80 and 120 per hour at its peak on a clear evening.

There’s one more chance this year to watch meteor showers with the Ursids, which peak Dec. 22-23, NASA says. Depending on cloud cover, darker new moon conditions mean the Ursids will radiate from the bowl of Ursa Minor, which you probably know as the Little Dipper.

Beth Dalbey (Patch Staff) contributed to this report. Photo by jeffsmallwood, via flickr creative commons