This Is Why You Should Go Outside In The Cold At Midnight Next Tuesday

Can I persuade you to go outside and stand still in the biting cold for an hour next week?

Few ever see many of the 150 multicoloured meteors that strike Earth’s atmosphere every mid-December. Despite being one of the year’s most prolific and spectacular displays of “shooting stars,” the Geminids are at a distinct disadvantage compared to similar displays in August and September.

You see, the Geminid meteor shower is a display best seen in the northern hemisphere. Its many “shooting stars” appear to emanate from the constellation of Gemini, “the twins,” a northern constellation. And, guess what? It’s cold up here. Nobody wants to go outside for longer than required.

And yet you should take an hour or so around midnight on December 13-14, 2022 to go outside and look skywards … if the sky is clear. Not only will you likely see a few mesmerizing “shooting stars,” but you’ll also see the night sky’s brightest and best stars around Gemini—namely Orion’s Belt, the Pleiades star cluster and the super-bright Sirius, the brightest night-star of all.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Geminid meteor shower—including when best to see it with just your naked eyes:

What is the Geminid meteor shower?

It’s an annual display of “shooting stars” that occurs when Earth passes through the debris field of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The Geminids meteor shower is the only such display of the year that’s caused by an asteroid rather than a comet. 3200 Phaethon orbits the Sun at speeds of 78,000 miles per hour and orbits the Sun every 1.4 years.

When is the Geminid meteor shower?

The Geminids meteor shower peaks this year on the night of December 13-14, 2022. However, it’s active from November 19 through December 24, 2022. So Earth is already within the debris field and some “shooting stars” are happening right now.

What is so special about the Geminid meteor shower?

According to the American Meteor Society the Geminids is usually the strongest meteor shower of the year. It’s capable of producing about 150 “shooting stars” per hour in a perfectly clear and unobstructed night sky, though this rate is impossible to experience as an observer (if you see 50 per hour you’ll be doing very well).

However, what’s even more special about the Geminid meteor shower is that its “shooting stars” are typically bright, intensely colored—blue, green and yellow—and they move fairly slowly (hitting Earth’s atmosphere at about 21 miles per second). They burn-up about 45-55 miles from the ground.

They multicoloured nature makes the Geminids unique.

Best time to see the Geminid meteor shower

Go outside about 11:30 p.m. and look anywhere but southeast—that’s where the “shooting stars” will come from, but meteors close to this radiant point have very short trails and are easily missed, according to NASA.

What you need to see the Geminid meteor shower

Not only do you not need to use a telescope of binoculars, but both optical aids will vastly reduce—probably to zero—the “shooting stars” you do see. For all meteor showers all you need are your own naked eyes, patience, a lawn chair and, of course, a very warm winter coat.

Why not to search for dark skies this year

You will, of course, need a clear sky. A dark sky will also help, hence the regular advice to go find a rural location away from urban light pollution. However, that’s not worth doing this year because the Moon will be about 72% illuminated, so will provide enough light pollution of its own to make any extra effort on your part rather pointless. Still, despite the strong moonlight there should be enough bright “shooting stars” to make an hour outside worth it.

What are ‘shooting stars?’

They’re small pieces of debris—often as small as a grain of sand—that Earth busts into. As they strike the atmosphere they energise, releasing photos of light as they cool down. That’s the light we see streaking across the night sky.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.