It looks like 2022 is on track to go out with a bang, as one of the year's most spectacular meteor showers will head to the celestial stage in the coming days.
The Geminid meteor shower will hit its peak Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with an estimated 120 meteors per hour to be visible under the right conditions, according to astronomers.
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WATCH HERENASA scientists describe the meteor shower as one of the “best and most reliable” shows, adding that during the shower's peak, streaks of light can be visible in all portions of the sky.
Residents interested in watching the cosmic sight are encouraged to take a series of steps to maximize their success. Finding areas away from city and street lights is a critical component, and if possible, residents are urged to lie on their backs, with their feet facing toward the southern horizon, and to look upward.
While the meteor shower’s “radiant point” is technically in the Gemini constellation, where it derives its name from, meteors should be visible across the sky, according to officials.
Aside from the conditions, patience will also be a key ingredient. It will take your eyes around 30 minutes to adjust fully to the dark, and once they do, you’ll be able to spot a lot more meteors.
Finally, the timing of when you go outside will be key. With moonrise occurring later in the evening, looking upward after 8 p.m. or so is generally your best bet to see the show, according to NASA scientists.
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While most meteor showers take place as the Earth goes through the trails of comets that have passed by, the Geminid meteor shower is actually the result of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.
That asteroid, which takes approximately 1.4 years to orbit around the sun, is only 3.17 miles across, but as Earth passes through its remnants, residents in the Northern Hemisphere are treated to a remarkable celestial show.
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SIGN UP The Geminid meteor shower was first observed in the 1800’s, but it was also much smaller, only leading to 10-to-20 meteors per hour at its peak.
It has grown significantly since then, according to officials, and is now one of the most prolific meteor showers on the calendar.
For those curious about such things, the asteroid is only 3.17 miles across, and while it passed within 6.4 million miles of Earth in 2017, it is highly unlikely to strike the planet any time soon, as its next-closest approach won’t occur until at least 2093, according to NASA.
