Every year in mid-December, our Earth passes through the dusty debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon in space that produces the Geminid meteor shower.
The shower will be active from December 11 to December 20 and will peak on the night of December 13-14 in 2024.
It is considered one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers, along with the Quadrantids in January and the Perseids in August.
The Geminids are the most prolific meteor shower of the year that produces around 150 meteors per hour during peak activity under ideal conditions.
However, this is not an ideal year for the Geminids, as a nearly full moon will compete with the Geminids in 2024 and wash out the faint meteors. You’ll only see the bright Geminid meteors. So don’t expect too much. If possible, try to observe from a rural area for a better count.

Duration of peak activity
Unlike the Quadrantids in January or the Lyrids in April, there is no sharp peak of the Geminid meteor shower.
The peak activity of the Geminid meteor shower can last about three days, centered around the predicted peak, making it easy to observe.
When to see the Geminid meteor shower in 2024

The Geminid meteor shower is best visible around 2 a.m. (your local time) on the night of December 13-14 in 2024.
The point from where the Geminid meteor shower radiates in the sky, called the shower’s radiant, rises in the mid-evening, reaches its highest point in the sky after midnight and then its altitude gradually decreases until it sets in the morning.
The radiant of the Geminid meteor shower climbs a decent height above the horizon around 10 p.m. (your local time). So start watching the Geminids from late evening and continue it until dawn.
You won’t see the Geminid meteor shower in the early evening as the shower’s radiant is located near the horizon in the eastern sky.
Where to look to see the Geminid meteor shower

The Geminid meteor shower radiates from the zodiac constellation Gemini, the Twins. Look high in the southeastern sky after midnight to identify the constellation Gemini.
The constellation Gemini is very easy to identify because of its twin stars, Pollux and Castor. Pollux is the brightest, and Castor is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini. Pollux appears yellow-white and Castor appears blue-white to the naked eye. They are easily noticeable in the night sky, even from light-polluted areas. The radiant of the Geminid meteor shower is located near the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini.
Don’t look at the constellation Gemini only to see the Geminid meteor shower, as the meteors closer to the radiant have shorter trails and are difficult to observe. So move your gaze across the entire east, southeast, and south directions of the sky.
Visibility of the Geminid meteor shower
The Geminid meteor shower is most favorable to observers in the Northern Hemisphere, especially those located in the mid-northern latitudes (from 20°N to 45°N).
Northern hemisphere: Observers located in the mid-northern latitudes will see an excellent display of this shower, where the radiant reaches almost overhead in the sky (about 80° altitude) at 2 a.m. local time.
However, the observers located in the low- and high-northern latitudes will see a moderate display of this shower, where the radiant reaches about 60° altitude after midnight.
Southern hemisphere: Observers located in the low- and mid-southern latitudes will see a poor display of this shower, where the radiant reaches about 30° altitude after midnight.
Anyone living farther south than 35°S will struggle to observe this shower, where the radiant never rises much above the horizon.
How the Geminid meteor shower got its name
Meteor showers are usually named after a constellation in which the radiant lies during peak activity or after a bright star closest to the radiant.
The Geminid meteor shower got its name from the zodiac constellation Gemini, as the shower’s radiant is located in the constellation Gemini during peak activity.
Tips to observe the Geminid meteor shower
Tip 1: You don’t need any special equipment, such as a pair of binoculars or a telescope, to see the Geminid meteor shower. A meteor shower is best visible with the naked eye.
Tip 2: It will be more enjoyable to watch the shower with your family or friends. It will be fun.
Tip 3: Find a safe, dark place away from city lights where a large portion of the sky is seen. Lie down or sit on a lawn chair and look straight up at the sky, facing roughly southeast. Bring hot drinks, blankets, and sleeping bags to stay warm.
Tip 4: It will take around 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Don’t look at your cell phone, as the bright light from its screen will interrupt your night vision.
Tip 5: Be patient, as the celestial show of the Geminid meteor shower will be visible until dawn. You’ll see more Geminid meteors as the night progresses, reaching its peak around 2 a.m. (your local time).
Tip 6: The larger meteoroids, which produce the brightest Geminid meteors, appear shortly after maximum due to the Poynting-Robertson effect on the Geminid stream. So don’t rush to pack up and go to bed.
References
Atlas of Meteor Showers – A Practical Workbook for Meteor Observers
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