Geminid meteor shower 2020: How to see spectacular ‘shooting stars’ tonight
Favourable conditions in the UK should produce one of the most dramatic celestial events of the year
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
The first of two meteor showers this month peaked over the weekend, with up to 120 Geminid meteors shooting across the sky every hour on Sunday night.
The peak coincided with December’s new moon, meaning the night’s sky will be especially dark for sky gazers to enjoy the spectacle.
The meteors burning through the Earth’s atmosphere, commonly referred to as “shooting stars”, will be visible until 16 December but will be at their most prolific on the night of 13 December and early morning of 14 December.
The best time to watch them is generally at around 2am, when the sky is at its darkest.
The Geminid meteors are one of several night sky marvels in December. Next week will see a total solar eclipse pass over South America, while 21 December will host a trio of astronomical events.
The penultimate Monday of 2020 is the shortest day and longest night of the year, known as the Winter Solstice, and will welcome the peak of the Ursid meteors and something known as the Great Conjunction.
This is when the two largest planets in our Solar System – Jupiter and Saturn – come within 0.1 degree of each other.
Advice from professional astronomers and photographers to get the best view of the meteors is to go to an area with as little light pollution as possible, and allow up to 45 minutes to allow for the eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments