One of the advantages of Iowa's wide-open country is that the skies are often clear and beautiful. Stargazing in the Hawkeye State is always something special, but it'll never be more special than this December. That's because the Geminids, one of the most prolific meteor showers seen in this solar system, is making its return. It's already begun, as the season runs from November 19th to December 24th, but the peak can be seen on the nights of December 13th and 14th - only weeks away! Of course, you'll want to find the perfect place to stargaze and watch the cosmos come alive with dancing meteors, so this article will help you find the best places to see the Geminid meteor shower in Iowa!
Iowa - and the entire northern hemisphere - will be treated to an amazing light show this December, as the Geminid meteor shower makes a repeat appearance.
The Geminids are one of the most active meteor showers around, caused by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The massive object attracts countless other smaller objects, which spin off and bring the sky to light with meteors.
The asteroid made its closest appearance to Earth in 2017, but will continue to zoom past and provide amazing views to stargazers this year. It can be seen all around the world, but the Northern Hemisphere provides the best views.
All the meteors seem to come from the same place in the sky, and that's located in the constellation Gemini - hence the shower's name.
These meteors should be visible to the naked eye if you're in an area with little light pollution, and Iowa has quite a few wonderful spots for stargazing.
One of the absolute best can be found near the small city of Indianola, in the Annett Nature Center in Warren County.
This peaceful park is especially beautiful in the winter, so bring a picnic and a blanket, watch as the sun goes down, and prepare for the sky to put on the best show of 2022.
Are you planning to go stargazing this December? Let us know where you're going to go to see the Geminid meteor shower in Iowa this December or tell us about your past stargazing adventures in the comments section! For more on the Annett Nature Center, you can visit the county's Facebook page. If you're looking for more ideal places for stargazing, check out this haven from light pollution.
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