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last head meteor shower It is set to peak this week in 2025, providing up to 120 shooting stars per hour.
geminid meteor shower This is typically one of the brightest displays of meteors each year, as it peaks when the sky is darkest in mid-December.
It is one of only two annual meteor showers – along with the Quadrantids – that do not originate from a comet, consisting mostly of ice.
This means that meteors can produce different colors because different metals burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
While most meteors will appear white, others may appear yellow, red, green and blue.
The first Geminid meteors began to appear on December 4, and will continue until December 20, although the peak will occur in the early hours of Sunday, December 14.
“This meteor shower is known to be bright and colorful, having formed from debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon.” NASA Mentioned in a blog post.
“To see the Geminids peak, look to the eastern sky throughout the evening of December 13 and 14. The meteors will be visible near the bright planet Jupiter.”
The intensity of the Geminid meteors means they will be visible even from well-lit suburban areas, although for the best viewing experience, sky viewers are advised to view them from an area with low levels of light pollution.
The American Meteor Society recommends wrapping yourself in warm clothing and giving at least 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to darkness without looking at phone screens or other artificial light sources.
Current forecasts from the UK Met Office show that skies will remain relatively clear this weekend, although cloud cover may affect some areas.
If visibility is low during peak hours, there is still a chance to see a good meteor display as on previous nights.
“If it looks like it will be cloudy the night of December 13/14, plan to observe before maximum,” Robert Lunsford, who has written a book on observing meteors, wrote in a post to the American Meteor Society.
“Geminid rates will be a maximum of 75 percent on the night of 12/13 December and a maximum of 50 percent on 11/1 December.”