Geminid meteor shower set to light up sky during weekend peak

The Geminid meteor shower – one of the most spectacular in the celestial calendar – is set to peak this weekend and astronomers say conditions could make for an especially striking show if weather permits.

The meteors are visible all over the world, though people in the Northern Hemisphere will get the best views.

In the UK, if the skies are clear, a waning crescent moon will only rise after midnight, which should mean several hours of dark skies to see the meteors more clearly.

Here’s the science behind the Geminids and how to get the best chance of seeing them.

We get treated to meteor showers when Earth passes through the trails of comets—icy objects that NASA calls “cosmic snowballs”—or, in rarer cases, including the Geminids, asteroids, which are rocky.

When dust and gases from these objects enter our atmosphere, they burn up and create the bright streaks we know as shooting stars.

While most meteors appear white, some can glow green, yellow, red, or blue, depending on the elements in the material as it burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.

Metals such as sodium, magnesium, and calcium produce colours similar to those seen in fireworks.

The Geminids shower comes from the remnants of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

Until recently, scientists thought the Geminids were a result of dust escaping from 3200 Phaethon. But two years ago scientists revealed that Phaethon’s tail is actually made of glowing sodium gas. So there is still some uncertainty about how and when the Geminids dust was formed.

The Geminids offer one of the year’s best chances, weather-permitting, of seeing a shower, due to the volume and frequency of its ‘shooting stars’.

“What you’d be looking at in a nice dark sky without clouds would be, say, 100 an hour, which is wonderful,” said Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society.

“It’s pretty much the strongest meteor shower of the year.”

Bright moonlight can make it more difficult to see meteors and other objects in the night sky. But weather-permitting, we could have close to ideal viewing conditions as the Geminids peak.

The crescent moon is in its final waning phases, with the bulk of it in shadow, and in the UK it also won’t rise until the early hours of the morning, potentially giving us a lovely dark sky in which to watch the spectacle.

Do keep in mind that visibility is still heavily influenced by weather conditions, so check your local forecast for the clearest possible window.

Finding somewhere without light pollution and with an open view of the sky will give you the best chance of seeing something.

The Geminids are a naked-eye event, best enjoyed under dark, open skies, so you won’t need a telescope or binoculars.

“There aren’t that many entirely free natural treats. And this is one of them. So go out and enjoy it. You know, it’s a way of connecting with the sky, taking a moment to sort of forget our more earthly or more worldly concerns,” said Dr Massey.

The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation of Gemini, but looking slightly away from that point often provides a wider field of view.

Dress warmly and take a blanket or reclining chair to get comfortable, and let your eyesight adapt to the dark.

“You just basically need to have reasonable eyesight to see this and I think that is incredible.”

The Geminids meteor shower peaks on Sunday, 14 December.

Unfortunately, the weather in the UK isn’t looking ideal for viewing. Both Saturday and Sunday are expected to be windy and cloudy, with outbreaks of rain during the day and night.

On Sunday night, there may be a few drier, clearer spells. Northern Scotland and the Northern Isles, as well as parts of East Anglia and southeast England, are likely to have the best chances of catching a glimpse of the night sky.

But keep on checking in, as there may be gaps in the gloom. A good place to keep track of the potential for a good viewing in your area is the Met Office’s UK Cloud Cover Map and via BBC Weather.