Geminids - Where to Look
I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the moon will be the fullest it has been all year and will lie in the radiant (Gemini) of the Geminids Meteor Shower. The good news is that the Geminids Meteor Shower is peaking between midnight and dawn on December 13th and usually produces some decent meteor displays. The Geminids Meteor Shower is a unique meteor shower that follows the path of the 3200 Phaethon Asteroid (a possible comet in its late stages of existence).
Where and when to look? Look at the darkest part of the sky after midnight until dawn. Because the moon is right in the middle of Gemini where the radiant of the shower is, your eyes may not be able to pick up meteors near the moon. This is why I say look away from the moon; you can however trace the backward path of the meteors to the radiant easily because of this fact too.
Happy gazing and post your comments and questions here. You may also be able to catch some meteors on December 14th after midnight too.
Keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
