Geminids meteor shower 2020: What time is the meteor shower?

The Geminids meteor shower is considered one of the most prolific shooting star display of the year. At its peak, stargazers can expect to see more than 100 shooting stars per hour as specks of dust and ice from an extinct comet collide with Earth’s atmosphere. As they do, they produce a bright burst of light which gives the illusion of shooting stars.

When is the Geminids meteor shower?

The Geminids meteor shower peaks in 2020 on the evenings of December 13 and 14.

According to NASA, those of us in the northern hemisphere can expect to see the most shooting stars after midnight and into the early morning hours.

The space agency also revealed that as there is a new Moon, which is when our lunar satellite is at its darkest, shooting stars will be more visible.

NASA said: “The Geminid rate will be even better this year, as the shower’s peak overlaps with a nearly new moon, so there will be darker skies and no moonlight to wash out the fainter meteors.

“That peak will happen on the night of Dec. 13 into the morning of Dec. 14, with some meteor activity visible in the days before and after.

“Viewing is good all night for the Northern Hemisphere, with activity peaking around 2am local time, and after midnight for viewers in the Southern Hemisphere.”

The Royal Greenwich Observatory also gave some handy tips on how to see the shooting stars.

For the best views, it is best to get away from major cities where light pollution can obscure the skies.

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“They can be seen with the naked eye so there’s no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.

“For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.

“The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide-open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes.

“But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they seem to originate from the Gemini constellation.”

source: express.co.uk