As the nights grow colder and the days grow shorter, the Geminids meteor shower is here to bring some celestial sparkle to the winter sky. This spectacular meteor shower, one of the largest of the year, is expected to peak this week, providing sky gazers with a dazzling display of shooting stars.
The Geminids meteor shower is unique in that it is produced by an asteroid rather than a comet, resulting in brighter meteors that do not produce trails as they do when derived from comet debris. According to experts, sky gazers could be treated to as many as 120 meteors per hour as part of the shower.
Those in the Chicago area can likely see the shower in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 14, with the best viewing time likely to be between midnight and 6 a.m. on both days. It may be possible to see some of Geminids prior to midnight on those dates as well. The meteors radiate from the constellation “Gemini” which is in the western sky after midnight.
NBC 5 Meteorologist Kevin Jeanes recommends viewers try to get away from city lights, and give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. He also suggests using your peripheral vision to locate objects in the sky. You can check hourly sky conditions using the NBC 5 app. Additionally, the Adler Planetarium notes that viewers have a good chance of seeing it due to the new Moon on Dec. 12.
To get the best possible view of the Geminids, find a spot far from light, face east, dress warm and bring blankets. After the Geminids, the Ursids meteor shower will appear during the morning hours of Friday, Dec. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 23. This shower will likely only draw five to 10 meteors per hour, with a nearly full moon also complicating any potential views of the shower. The Quadrantids shower will then head toward the Chicago area in January, and is expected to peak on Thursday, Jan. 4. This shower could bring as few as 40 and as many as 100 meteors per hour, and will appear near the Big Dipper in the northeast sky in the early morning hours.
The Geminids meteor shower is a breathtaking celestial event that should not be missed. So grab a blanket, some hot cocoa, and head out to the nearest dark spot for the best view of the night sky. You won’t be disappointed!
