The Geminid meteor showers peak tonight. Here’s when and where they’ll be visible

The Geminidsconsidered one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year, is underway and set to peak Friday night into early Saturday.

The shower will peak under a nearly full moon, which could make viewing the cosmic show a challenge. The light from the moon will wash the fainter meteors out from under the peak, according to NASA.

“However, the Geminids are known for bright meteors, and it is common to spot their shooting stars up to a week before peak,” according to NASA. “If you’re up before dawn that week, it’s worth looking up just to catch a glimpse of a speck of dust from space streaking across the morning sky.”

When and where you can see the Geminids

Light from the near-full moon will reduce visible rates for the Geminids by 50-75% during the peak this year, said Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. The brightest meteors will still be visible, according to NASA.

With the bright moon at the top of the night, an observer in the United States can see about 15 Geminids per hour, Cooke said.

“In short, 2024 is a bad year for Geminid viewing – December 2025 will be much better,” Cooke said.

The Geminid meteor shower is visible around the world and throughout the night sky. For optimal viewing conditions, go somewhere far away from city and street lights and then lie flat on your back with your feet pointing south. Give your eyes half an hour to adjust to the darkness.

NASA advises that you bring a sleeping bag or blanket to help with the cold while waiting for the Geminids.

The build normally starts around 9 or 10 p.m., with the meteors best seen at night or in the pre-dawn hours.

What is a meteor shower?

Meteors are space rocks that enter Earth’s atmosphere and heat up as they fall toward Earth, according to NASA. As they streak across the sky, glowing, hot air surrounding the meteors gives the meteors the appearance of shooting stars. During meteor showers, many meteors travel through Earth’s atmosphere over a short period of time.

Most meteors burn up in space. The few that survive the trip and reach the ground and considered meteorites.

What makes the Geminids different from other meteor showers?

The Geminids are one of the year’s most powerful meteor showers, with a rate of 120 meteors per hour under perfect conditions, according to NASA.

While most meteor showers originate from comets, the Geminids actually originate from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. NASA scientists say that the asteroid behaves like a “strange” comet.

And while NASA says most meteors appear to be colorless or white, the Geminids are usually yellow in color.

The annual Geminids meteor shower first appeared in the mid-1800s.