How to watch the Geminid meteor shower this weekend

The Geminid meteor shower (seen here on a previous occasion) is expected to peak on Saturday night. Credit: PA

Skygazers will have a chance to see what NASA describes as "one of the best and most reliable" meteor showers of the year this weekend.

The Geminid meteor shower, which returns every December, is also referred to as a "meteor storm" due to its intensity, and usually lights up the sky with a bright flurry of yellow hued meteors.

However, there is a small snag for those hoping to catch the display this year.

Some of the fainter meteors will be blocked out by the lunar glow of a near-full moon, meaning this weekend's shower may not be quite as spectacular as during previous years.

"The waxing gibbous phase is when the moon is more than 50% illuminated but not yet a full moon," explains NASA.

"Usually during the Geminids, you can often catch 50 or more meteors per hour, but with the moonlit skies in 2024, you might only catch the brightest meteors, reducing rates down to about 15 meteors per hour.

"This is still better than other annual showers like the Lyrids, but it will be a poor showing compared to that of the Geminids under a moonless sky."

Nasa describes the shower as the 'best and most reliable annual meteor showers'. Credit: PA

How to make the most of 2024's Geminid meteor shower?

Dr Minjae Kim, research fellow in the physics department at the University of Warwick, said: “An interesting feature of the Geminids is that their radiant point, where the meteors seem to originate from, rises in the mid-evening.

“This means you can start watching this shower earlier in the night than most other meteor showers. These meteors are known for their brightness, speed and typically yellow hue.

“The Geminids are observable worldwide due to their nearly 24-hour peak duration, making them accessible during both night and predawn hours.”

He added: “In the UK, I would recommend you head out around 6-7pm, giving your eyes enough time to adjust to the night sky, enhancing the visibility of the meteors.

“The best viewing spot would be somewhere far away from urban lights – so rural areas will get the best viewing experience.”

The Geminid meteor shower passes the Nicholas U. Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, Arizona last year. Credit: AP/ NOIRLab

For the best chance of spotting the Geminids, preparation for cold weather is essential and viewers should lie flat on their backs with feet facing south, allowing for the best view of the sky.

Dr Kim said: “If you can’t switch off your phone entirely, using a red light filter on your device can help preserve your night vision while still allowing you to use it.

“Additionally, having a mobile device with a sky viewing app can be handy to locate the Gemini constellation, enhancing your meteor-watching experience.

“The spectacle continues until dawn, offering ample opportunities for observation – aided by the long nights of December.”

What are the Geminids?

The Geminids originate from a rocky asteroid called 3200 Phaethon with a comet-like orbit and were first observed in 1862.

The meteors, small pieces of interplanetary debris, appear to radiate from near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini.

According to the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Geminids are unusual as they can be multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue.

This is partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium – the same materials used to make fireworks colourful.

Stargazers are advised to stay away from phones and resist using their phones too much so their eyes can adjust to the meteors' brightness. Credit: AP

The streaks seen in the night sky can actually be caused by particles as small as a grain of sand, and the Geminids are thought to be intensifying every year.

Dr Kim said: “Interestingly, these meteor showers were known as modest, featuring only 10 to 20 meteors per hour, back in the mid-1800s.

“However, the Geminids have evolved over time into one of the major astronomical events.”

Bill Cooke, lead for the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, adds that the Geminids are "one of only two meteor showers that can theoretically cause meteorites on the ground", the other being the Taurids.

Most Geminids burn up 30-40 miles above people's heads, NASA says, but there is a very small chance that one may be big enough to produce a brilliant fireball and leave small meteorites on the ground.

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