Mercury’s retrograde isn’t the only exciting astrological event this week. The Geminid meteor shower, which takes place every December, started late last night and goes through Dec. 24.
Today and tomorrow are the best days for seeing the shower because of the waxing moon.
What are the Geminids?
- The winter equivalent of the Perseid meteor shower, the Geminids are meteors that greet Earth’s skies every December.
- They’re not from a comet like the Perseids and most meteors. The Geminids are particles from an asteroid that orbits the sun.
- The meteors hang in the asteroid's orbit, which spans from halfway between the sun and Mercury out to Mars. Our planet and the asteroid’s wider orbit intersect every year — and the meteors aren’t actually falling onto Earth; we’re blasting through them.
- Because the meteors’ streaks of light are caused by Earth’s orbit, the meteors will appear to have a point of origin in the sky, which is called a radiant.
- The radiant will rise in the east near the star Castor, which is part of the Gemini constellation — hence the name Geminids.
How to See the Shower
- Unfortunately, Boise’s lovely inversion will interfere with seeing the shower. It’s not impossible to see them in the valley, however.
- Get your head above the low-hanging clouds for the best chance of seeing the shower. Here are a few options for Idaho’s best, but anywhere with a clear sky will do.
- The radiant point peaks at about 2 a.m., so the hours around then will be best for viewing.
