If you haven’t got your fix of Christmas lights on the ground, next week will feature a dazzling display up above us.
The Geminid meteor shower is an annual astronomical event, and this year the light show will peak on the nights of December 13th and 14th.
According to NASA, the Geminids is one of the “best and most reliable” meteor showers to pass by our planet. Space.com describes them as “bright and easy to spot — even from light-polluted areas.”
“They come fast and furious,” the website says. “This year, because of the moonlight, around 20-30 may be visible per hour.”
According to the NASA website, the Geminids shower is approximately 200 years old, with its first recorded observation dating back to an 1833 riverboat on the Mississippi River.
Since then, the shower has only grown as Jupiter’s gravity has pulled the stream of particles that follow asteroid 3200 Phaethon — which comprises the meteor shower — and moved them closer to Earth over time.
The Victoria Buzz guide on how to watch
While meteors will be visible starting 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. PST, the best time to view them is around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.
Experts recommend heading somewhere secluded, away from light pollution, and giving your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
We recommend somewhere high up and away from too much downtown lights, like Mt. Doug, Mt. Tolmie, or somewhere along Dallas Road.
After you’ve found your spot, cozy up in warm clothes and on a comfy chair to enjoy the light show!
For a little preview of a meteor shower that’s aged like fine wine, here’s NASA’s 2017 Geminids video.
The Geminids meteor shower
- When: December 13th and 14th, starts as early as 9:00 p.m., peaks at 2:00 a.m.
- Where: All across the Northern hemisphere night sky
