Spectacular Geminid meteor shower set to peak in visibility this week

A spectacular meteor shower, famous for its multicoloured streaks of light, will illuminate the night sky this week.

Stargazers will be in with a chance to witness the Geminids – the last meteor shower of the year.

The spectacular celestial display is expected to be at its best from Thursday evening, December 14th, and will be visible until the early morning of Friday, December 15th.

This impressive display is also known as a meteor storm due to its intensity and if skies are clear, viewers may spot 100 to 120 meteors per hour – with most expected at around 7.30pm.

According to Nasa, it is regarded as one of the year’s ‘best and most reliable annual meteor showers’.

And, as the moon is entering a new phase, the dark skies will make it easier for people to see the meteors.

The name Geminids comes from Gemini, the constellation from which these meteors appear to emerge, and were first seen in 1862. 

Dr Minjae Kim, who works in the physics department at the University of Warwick, said: “The Geminids meteor shower will be peaking this week, offering views of one of the year’s most prolific meteor showers against the darkness of the winter’s sky.”

According to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the Geminids are distinctive because of their colours – they can be white, yellow, green, red and blue.

It puts this down to the presence of metals like sodium and calcium, adding that this is the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful.

As Dr Kim says: “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.”

Explaining the best time to see the meteor shower, and where you should head for the best view, he added: “In the UK, I would recommend you head out around 6 to 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.”

For those planning on catching a glimpse of the spectacular display this week and wanting to capture it, Dr Kim advised: “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.”

While the stunning display of ‘shooting stars’ is already underway, in the UK the peak of the meteor shower is expected to start around 7.30pm on Thursday, December 14th and will last until Wednesday, December 20th.