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Geminid meteor shower peaks this weekend

Known as one of the most dependable meteor showers, the Geminids also are best viewed before midnight.

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Geminid meteor shower
By
Tony Rice
, NASA Ambassador

Unlike others that are best seen in the hours before sunrise, the prime time for the Geminids is during more family friendly evening hours.

Meteors are produced as dust and debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon enters the upper atmosphere. Earth passes through the densest part of that trail Sunday evening around 8 p.m eastern. The show improves as the radiant point, or spot in the sky where meteors appear to be coming from, rises higher in the sky revealing meteors around 30 meteors per hour including those previously hidden below the horizon.

Moonless nights will also make fainter meteors more visible as well

Where to look

While the radiant is in the constellation Gemini, but meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. Look to the darkest part of your sky near the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini.

Also give you eyes at least ten minutes to adjust to the darkness. This significantly increases your chance of seeing meteors.

The Geminid Meteor Shower peaks Sunday December 13 with other opportunities Friday the 11th through Monday the 14th

When to look

While activity will peak on Sunday, Friday through Monday nights are expected to produce good activity as well.

Partly cloudy skies with increasing clouds overnight are expected through Sunday across the area. Rain is also in the forecast overnight Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight looks to be the most family friendly night with temperatures in the low 50s and mostly clear conditions until 8pm then turning partly cloudy until after midnight. Monday is expected to be clearer but with temperatures in the 30s. Brighter meteors have been seen in the days following the peak as well.

While fewer meters are likely to be seen earlier in the evening, this is when longer, more dramatic trails are seen as debris grazes the upper atmosphere at a sharper angle.

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