2022 Geminid Meteor Shower

Best viewed: 14-15th December 2022

Ready for some multi-coloured meteors? The Geminids are mainly white, sometimes yellow, and occasionally red, green, or blue!

What is the Geminid meteor shower?

Every year, the Earth goes once around the Sun. And every December, the Earth crashes into a cloud of debris left behind by the asteroid Phaethon. As the debris burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere, it produces the meteor shower that we call the Geminids.
At its peak, the Geminids produce about 100 meteors per hour. They’re usually very bright and there’s always a chance of seeing one that becomes a fireball.

The best time to see the Geminids in 2022 is from 10pm on Wednesday 14th until dawn on Thursday 15th December.
Unfortunately, viewing conditions are not great for 2022, with the Moon being 72% full on 14th December.
The Geminids will start appearing from 14th November and continue until 24th December.

No special equipment is needed to observe the Geminid meteor shower from the UK, but a bit of preparation helps.

Check the Weather: Monitor the weather forecast. If cloudy, try observing on nights before the peak.
Choose a Dark Location: Select a safe, dark spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, away from buildings, trees, and lights. The Geminids can appear anywhere in the sky, so the broader your view, the better.
Adjust Your Eyes: Turn off all lights, including phones and torches, for 15 minutes to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. Use a red filter on your torch if necessary.
Stay Comfortable: Dress warmly and bring a reclining chair. Since the Geminids can be viewed for many hours, refreshments can enhance your experience.
Photography Tips: For photographing meteors, follow tips from experts like Mary McIntyre. Additionally, consider building or buying a meteor camera to create time-lapse videos and join the UK network of over 186 meteor cameras. This project is great for kids or students.

Origin: The Geminids are named because they appear to originate from the constellation Gemini. They are caused by Earth passing through debris from asteroid Phaethon.
Colors: Geminids are multi-colored—mainly white, but sometimes yellow, red, green, or blue—due to metals like sodium and calcium, similar to fireworks.
Unique Source: Unlike most meteor showers, which originate from comets, the Geminids come from an asteroid, as do the Quadrantids.
History: First observed in 1862, the Geminids have been intensifying yearly.
Speed: Traveling at 22 miles per second, Geminid meteors are relatively slow, creating bright trails and sometimes exploding as fireballs due to intense heating.

By following these tips and understanding more about the Geminids, you can enjoy one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year.