One of the few showers that works from both hemispheres. Gemini rises high in the north and still clears the horizon well south of the equator.
The best time to see Geminid Meteor Shower in 2027 is December 13-14, 2027. Timing status: Predicted dates.
The most dependable and prolific shower of the year.
Bright and tinged with yellow, the Geminids often outperform the Perseids and are visible worldwide. Dress warm, the best rates come after midnight under dark winter skies.
Moon at the peak: full moon, 99% lit (poor). A near-full moon floods the sky, so only the brightest meteors will show. Better in a darker-moon year.
Why it happens
Asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Inclined 22° to Earth's orbit. Every December, Earth reaches the node where this asteroid's dust crosses its path, and the debris burns up as the shower.
