Do you ever just wander outdoors and gaze at the nighttime sky? There’s something so calming about the stars twinkling in the sky and the stillness of the evening, isn’t there? Any clear evening’s ideal for getting outside for a bit of stargazing in Pennsylvania, but now’s the perfect time to catch the annual Geminids meteor shower, known as one of the best meteor showers of the year.
If you’re an avid stargazer, you probably already have your calendar marked for an annual celestial event: The return of the Geminids meteor shower.
Considered the most reliable meteor shower, the Geminids will light up the nighttime sky now through Christmas Eve.
However, this spectacular celestial show will peak overnight on December 13-14, 2022, at around 2 a.m.
Mark your calendar for mid-December, but even if you can’t make it outdoors for the peak, you’ll still be treated to a magnificent nighttime show on clear evenings.
On a clear night, you might be able to catch as many as 120 meteors an hour, according to NASA. That’s quite a difference compared to the 20 meteors originally seen each hour when the Geminids were discovered in the late 1800s.
Named after the Gemini constellation, the Geminids differ from other meteors in one significant way. Most meteors are formed by comets; the Geminids are the result of the asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
If you plan on heading outdoors during the peak evening or anytime leading up to or after it, you can increase your chances of seeing the Geminids in a few ways.
Head to your nearest dark sky park, if you’re near one. If not, just find an area that is relatively free of light pollution – a park, for example.
The nighttime show usually begins between 9 and 10 p.m., with the peak at around 2 a.m. after the moon sets. Lie down on the ground, if you can, and give your eyes at least half an hour to get used to the dark sky.
Geminids meteors whisk across the sky at a speed of around 22 miles per second and usually look yellow. If the conditions are just right, you should be able to count up to 120 an hour.
Are you excited about the biggest meteor shower of the year? Have you caught it in years past? Let us know in the comments! Did you know there’s also a dark sky park in Pennsylvania? It boasts the clearest skies on the Eastern Seaboard.
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