Peak rate
150
meteors per hour at peak
UpcomingDec 4 – Dec 17
The Geminids
The strongest annual shower; bright multicolored meteors.
Peak: Monday, December 14, 2026
Countdown to peak
230days
Velocity
35
km/s entering atmosphere
Radiant
Gemini
near Castor
Best for
Both
hemispheres
Where to look
Meteors radiate outward from a single point on the sky. Face Gemini, then keep the radiant in your peripheral vision.
RA 110°right ascension
Dec +22°declination
Northern skyvisible worldwide
Where it comes from
Parent body
Asteroid 3200 Phaethon (rock comet)
The comet or asteroid whose dust Earth passes through each year.
First recorded
1862
Earliest documented observation.
Entry velocity
35 km/s
Speed at which meteoroids hit the atmosphere.
How to watch
Radiant
Gemini (near Castor)
The apparent point of origin — meteors streak outward from here.
Best viewing time
All night — radiant rises early
When the radiant is highest above the horizon.
Hemisphere
Both — visible worldwide
Latitude bands that see the highest rates.
Did you know
Rare — originates from an asteroid, not a comet. Meteors appear white, yellow, green, red, and blue.
Watching guide
Tailored for the Geminids.
- 1Get away from city lights
Light pollution hides most meteors. A rural or dark-sky site boosts your count by 5× or more.
- 2Dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need time to reach peak sensitivity. No phone screens during this window — use a red flashlight if needed.
- 3Aim for the best time: all night — radiant rises early
The radiant is well-placed during this window — expect the strongest rates then.
- 4No telescope, no binoculars
Meteors appear all over the sky — you want the widest view possible. A reclining chair and a blanket are better tools than optics.
Next shower after Geminids
Eta Aquariids · peaks May 6