Geminids Meteor Shower 2015 Peak: The Year's Finale

BY MARC TORRENCE

The 2015 meteor shower season is coming to an end, and we should be in for quite the finale with the 2015 Geminid meteor shower peaking soon.

The Geminids appear to originate from the constellation Gemini, but you don’t necessarily have to look that way to see them. As always, just look up.

Here’s what you need to know:

When should I look?

The Geminids will peak the nights of December 13 and 14, according to NASA. The good news for people with kids (or those who just don’t like staying up late): the meteors get going around 9 or 10 p.m., NASA says.

But peak activity each night will be at about 2 a.m. local time, according to EarthSky.

“As a general rule, the higher the constellation Gemini climbs into your sky, the more Geminid meteors you’re likely to see,” EarthSky says.

The weather for Long Island during the peak does not look ideal at the moment. The National Weather Service is currently calling for a mostly cloudy skies and a chance of showers on Sunday and Monday nights.

What else makes this one special?

The Geminids are “typically one of the best and most reliable of the annual meteor showers,” according to NASA, so they shouldn’t be hard to spot.

The timing works out well, too.

The moon will be a thin crescent and set in the early evening, making for a nice, dark sky to spot meteors streaking across the sky.

What is a meteor shower?

Comets and asteroids leave behind trails of dust and debris as they orbit the sun. When the Earth passes through one of these orbits, the debris enters the Earth’s atmosphere, burning up upon entry and creating bright streaks of light through the sky.

The Geminids are caused by asteroid 3200 Phaethon, a “rock comet” on a long path through the solar system, according to EarthSky.

How do I see the meteor shower?

Find a dark place away from city lights. Get comfy (and stay warm!) with a sleeping bag or blanket.

Then, just look up. As your eyes get adjusted to the dark sky, it will be easier to spot meteors in the sky. Try to avoid looking at your phone or other bright lights, which will affect your vision.

Image: Geminid meteors, via NASA