The 2023 Geminid meteor shower is here, and it’s shaping up to be one of the best fireworks displays of the year.
With a two-day old new moon and generally favorable weather across the US, Thursday (Dec. 14) looks like another great night to catch the peak of this annual meteor shower. Already, the all-night peak on Wednesday (Dec. 13) put on a show for meteor hunters around the world. Skywatchers in areas with reasonably dark skies can see up to 100 meteors per hour this year. According to SpaceWeather.com.
If you can’t bear the chill of a December night or don’t have clear skies, you can catch the Geminid meteor shower tonight thanks to free online livestreams provided by the Slooh Telescope Network and the Virtual Telescope Project in Rome, Italy.
Related: Meteor shower 2023: When is the next one?
Slooh Robot Telescopes
The Slooh robotic telescope network offers free live streaming of the Geminid meteor shower 5:30pm EST (2230 GMT) on Thursday (Dec. 14).
laziness Operates a network of telescopes in Chile and the Canary Islands. The company hosts livestream webcasts like this one and allows users to rent time on their telescopes.
Virtual telescope project
The virtual telescope project is directed by astronomer Gianluca Masi. Tonight (Dec. 13), Masi hosts a live broadcast of the Geminid meteor shower Thursday (Dec. 14) begins at 6 p.m. EST (2300 GMT).
“This year, the moon will be new and therefore invisible in the sky, providing ideal, dark conditions for a memorable experience. Expect about 100 meteors per hour,” Massey writes. Project website.
The Geminid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Gemini, the region of the sky where the meteors originate (also known as its radiant point). The Geminids are notable because, unlike other meteor showers, they were formed not by cometary debris, but by the remnants of the Earth-crossing Apollo asteroid 3200 Phaethon, with an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than any other named asteroid.
If you’re thinking of taking some of your own photos of the Geminids or any other meteor shower, check out our How to Photograph Meteors and Meteor Showers guide. If you’re in need of imaging gear for your next big sky scene, check out our picks for the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s note: If you’ve taken a great photo of the Geminid meteor shower that you’d like to share with Space.com and our news partners for a story or collage, please send images and comments. [email protected].
