Geminid meteor shower 2018 UK: How, when and where to watch its shooting stars flash across the sky

Jacob Jarvis13 December 2018

The Geminid meteor shower will sends streaks of light across the sky in the last major spectacle of its kind in 2018.

The phenomenon, also called the Geminids, is one of the year’s most prominent showers and peaks between December 13 and 14.

Previously there have been some 120 meteors per hour visible at its peak time.

Below, the Standard details key points regarding the Geminids for those wishing to glance skywards as it dazzles above.

A meteor captured flying through the sky in Belarus
EPA

What is the Geminid meteor shower?

The Geminid meteors appear to radiate from near the star Castor, which is in the constellation Gemini.

However, their source is actually from a stream of debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

This makes it one of only a few major showers not to originate from a comet.

The shower can produce multi-coloured flashes, with white, yellow, blue, green and red visible.

A long exposure photo shows a Geminid meteor shower streaking across the night sky next to a pagoda over Doi Inthanon mountain in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand
EPA

When is the meteor shower?

The shower has been happening since earlier in December but its peak, when it is easiest to see, will take place from late December 13 into the morning of December 14.

It is expected to be most visible between midnight and dawn on December 14.

“You can look out for the shower from sunset as the radiant is in the northern hemisphere, although the early hours of 14 December are the expected peak time,” according to guidance from the Royal Observatory.

That night weather is set to be generally dry across the UK, according to the Met Office forecast, however cloud might obscure the view.

How to see the Geminid shower

Unlike some celestial happenings, this meteor shower can be seen without specialist equipment.

However, it will require patience to catch the main moments due to the unpredictability of the key viewing window.

“Hunting for meteors, like the rest of astronomy, is a waiting game, so it's best to bring a comfy chair to sit on and to wrap up warm as you could be outside for a while. They can be seen with the naked eye so there's no need for binoculars or a telescope, though you will need to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark,” said advice from the Royal Observatory.

One reason the shower is easier to see is where it originates from.

“The Geminids is different to other meteor showers as Geminid meteors originate from an asteroid, as opposed to a comet, meaning they are very rocky and gritty, making them slightly easier to see than other showers,” the Met Office said.

Where to watch it

A view of a Meteor Shower and the Milky Way
Shutterstock

It is advisable to head away from light pollution, with open expanses outside the city the best place to view shooting stars.

Advice from the Royal Observatory said: “For the best conditions, you want to find a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.

“The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, so it’s good to be in a wide open space where you can scan the night sky with your eyes. But if you trace the paths that the meteors take, they seem to originate from the Gemini constellation.”

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