The Geminid meteor shower will peak overnight on December 13 -14, with rates of up to 150 meteors possible in the night sky during the peak.
The peak of the shower will occur at around 03:00 UTC on December 14 (21:00 CST on December 13). The best time to watch the meteors will be from late evening on December 13 to the early dawn hours of December 14.
The meteor shower can be observed live on a YouTube stream by the Virtual Telescope Project, set to begin at 21:00 UTC (15:00 CST) on December 13.
How to look for Geminids
Look for Geminid meteors streaking away from a point of origin close to the bright star Castor in the constellation Gemini, which rises above the eastern horizon a few hours after sunset and remains visible throughout the night.
The observing conditions are favorable this year, with the Moon a waning crescent, about 30% illuminated, rising after 02:00 LT on December 14 in many northern locations.
This provides several hours of moon-free darkness during the period when the radiant is rising, and meteor activity is increasing.
The exact moonrise time varies with longitude, so optimal viewing intervals depend on local conditions. After moonrise, observers can continue viewing by facing westward to minimize lunar glare.