One of the biggest meteor showers of the year, the Geminids, will peak Wednesday night into Thursday morning, but will the weather cooperate?
NBC 5 meteorologist Kevin Jeans said the Geminids differ from other meteor showers in that they are produced by asteroids rather than comets. This produces slightly brighter meteors that don’t leave traces like they would if they came from comet debris.
According to expertsskygazers can see up to 120 meteors or shooting stars per hour as part of the shower.
People in the Chicago area could see showers early Thursday morning, with the best viewing times likely to be between midnight and 6 a.m.
Nighttime is the best opportunity to view the meteor shower, but you may be able to see some of the Geminid meteor shower before midnight that day.
Meteors radiate from the constellation Gemini in the western sky after midnight.
Will the weather allow for optimal viewing?
According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, conditions should be mostly clear overnight, but a few clouds could roll in at times and affect visibility.
Given the lack of cloud cover and the two-day clear period after the new moon, there should be plenty of dark but clear skies to view the meteor shower.
The best way to observe meteor showers
Jeans advises viewers to step away from city lights and give their eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. This means you may be out overnight for some time, so dress warmly and bring a blanket.
Jeans also recommends using your peripheral vision to locate objects in the sky.
“To get the best view of the Geminid meteor shower, find an east-facing location far from the light.” planetarium said.
Increase in meteor showers in the future
Following the Geminid meteor shower, the Ursa Minor meteor shower will occur in the mornings of Friday, December 22nd and Saturday, December 23rd.
This meteor shower will likely only attract 5 to 10 meteors per hour, and the near full moon also complicates potential viewing of this meteor shower.
The Oblida meteor shower is then expected to head toward the Chicago area in January, reaching its peak on Thursday, January 4th. This meteor shower, which can produce a minimum of 40 and up to 100 meteors per hour, will appear near the Big Dipper in 2020. Northeastern sky in the early morning.
Note that meteor showers often last several weeks before and after their peak, so these meteors can be visible on non-peak days as well.