A rare sight is expected to light up the skies over the weekend despite some challenges. according to NASAthe Geminid meteor Showers may be visible under a full moon Friday night or Saturday morning. However, the moonlight could also make the rain more difficult to see, the agency said.
“However, the Geminids are known for bright meteors, and it is common to spot their shooting stars up to a week before the peak,” he said. NASA he stated “If you’re up before dawn this week, it’s worth looking up, just in case you spot a speck of space dust streaking across the morning sky.”
How has 2024 been to see Geminids?
Bill Cooke, leader of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, said the visibility the Gemini rate could be reduced by 50-75% due to the moon. However, the brightest meteors can still be seen in various parts of the world.
“In short, 2024 is a bad year for Gemini viewing – December 2025 will be much better,” CBS News informed
The best place to see the Geminids
For those who want the best viewing conditions, experts say they should go away from the city and find a place where they can lie down with their feet facing south.
The Geminids, which are one of the strongest meteor showers, travel at about 120 meteors per hour. Unlike most meteor showers, which come from comets, the Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, according to NASA. Most meteors are colorless or white, but the Geminids are usually yellow, the agency added. The Geminid meteor showers are seen annually, but first appeared in the mid-19th century.
What time can you see the meteor showers on Friday night?
As CBS News reported, “The shower usually starts around 9 or 10 p.m., and meteors are best seen at night or before dawn.” Showers are expected to peak Friday night and into Saturday morning. Space.com reported“Maximum Gemini activity usually occurs in the evening and early morning hours, with the best viewing time around 2 a.m. local time, when the rain-radiant constellation Gemini found at the highest point of the sky.”
Scientists describe meteors as space rocks, which heat up as they fall toward Earth. Meteors, according to NASA, look like shooting stars as they travel across the sky. Meteorites usually travel through Earth’s atmosphere very quickly and burn up in space. Meteorites that fall to the ground without burning up are called meteorites.
