Service highlight: Geminids shine on December night!

Service highlight: Geminids shine on December night!

Baden-Baden, Deutschland - An impressive spectacle in the sky awaits us in the night from December 13th to December 14th, 2024: The Geminid meteor showers culminated and promises up to 200 starter tits per hour! This astronomical show, one of the largest and brightest meteor showers of the year, has been active since St. Nicholas Day and attracts star watchers from all over the world. Carolin Liefke, deputy head of the House of Astronomy in Heidelberg, explained that the best observation conditions occur that night between midnight and early morning hours. The full moon, which shines almost completely on December 15, 2024, could affect the view.

Optimal time and location for observation

Especially at 2 a.m. at 2 a.m., the activity of the Geminids will be highest. Then the radiant, the point in the sky, from which the meteors seem to shine, stands in the constellation twins, near the bright star castor. The visibility is particularly for observers in the northern hemisphere, while the southern hemisphere is less lucky because the radiant is lower in the sky. In order to optimally enjoy the spectacle, star friends should choose a dark place, far from urban lights, and their eyes get used to the dark. According to the Starwalk platform, observers can find out the best time and place for the observations through targeted use of apps such as Sky Tonight.

An interesting peculiarity of the Geminids is that they are debris of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and do not come from a comet like many other meteor showers. These meteors show a fascinating play of colors in white, yellow, red and green, which is due to the different metals in their components. Despite the difficult conditions this year, due to the bright moon, there is hope for some impressive sightings. In order to experience the best properties of the Geminids, it is advisable to cover the bright moon with a tree or other natural element and to prepare for these fascinating sky lights. Both reports from Regenbogen.de and Starwalk.space provide valuable tips for an unforgettable shooting star experience.