The Geminid meteor shower is being seen at the top of Niubei Mountain in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, China, on December 14, 2023. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Geminids meteor shower will light up the night sky this weekend and put on a celestial show.
The Geminids started earlier this month and will peak overnight on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.
The backstory:
NASA says the Geminids first appeared in the mid-1800s and are considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers for being bright and colorful, made up of debris trailing the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. During its peak, 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.
What you can do:
Viewing tips for the Geminid meteor shower
To see best see the Geminids peak, look to the eastern sky all evening on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. The meteors will appear near the bright planet Jupiter. (NASA)
A clear sky without haze and light pollution will result in optimal viewing conditions for stargazers.
To best view meteors, NASA says find an area away from the city and streetlights. After 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt, and you will begin to see meteors which will appear near the bright planet Jupiter.
According to NASA, the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to see it.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from NASA and previous FOX Television Stations reporting. This story was reported from Orlando.