Want to watch possibly one of the best meteor showers of the year? Then look up in the sky on the evening of Saturday, December 13th, or early the next morning to catch one of the most reliable meteor showers we have: the Geminid Meteor shower. Every year around this time of year the Earth crosses the orbit of the odd asteroid 3200 Phaethon and collides with debris that the asteroid has left behind in its wake. To get the best possible viewing experience, follow these handy tips.
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Hope for good weather. Can’t see meteors if you can’t see the sky.
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If you live in or nearby a city, travel far enough away so that your view isn’t obstructed by light pollution. While some of the brightest meteors will be visible even in a big city, you’ll miss all of the smaller dimmer meteors that make the wait in between the big ones that much more amazing.
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Dress warm, if the meteor shower is as good as we hope, you might be outside longer than you think.
The best time to watch this particular meteor shower is conveniently just after sunset. The constellation Gemini, which is the radiant or origin point of these meteors will just be rising in the eastern sky. Luckily, the moon won’t rise until around midnight. You won’t have to worry about the meteors getting outshone by the moon until that time. So grab a warm beverage, a blanket, and a friend and head outside to see what we hope is the best meteor shower of 2014.
