Annual Geminids meteor shower currently at peak activity

The Geminids meteor shower is currently active in our skies with NASA considering it “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.”

The meteor shower is active from Nov. 19 to Dec. 24 with its peak being Dec. 14.

The Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours and are visible across the globe due to a nearly 24-hour broad maximum.

NASA encourages watchers to find an area well away from city and street lights to view the Geminids.

The point in the sky from which the Geminids appear to come is the constellation Gemini, the “Twins.” The constellation of Gemini is also where we get the name for the shower: Geminids.

Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from asteroids that are left behind when these objects come around the Sun.

Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.

The Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s but were not immediately as bright as they are today.

The first showers were not noteworthy with only 10 to 20 meteors seen per hour. Now during its peak, 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.

Unlike most meteor showers which originate from comets, the Geminids originate from an asteroid: 3200 Phaethon.

3200 Phaethon was discovered on Oct. 11, 1983, by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite. Phaethon is named after the character of Greek myth who drove the Sun-god Helios’ chariot because of its close approach to the Sun.