How to watch the Geminids in Nashville, one of the best meteor showers peaks tonight
The most spectacular meteor shower of the year is approaching.
The Geminids meteor shower, which peaks annually during mid-December, is considered to be one of the best meteor showers. According to NASA, during the showers' peak and under perfect conditions, 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour. The Geminids are bright, fast meteors and tend to be yellow in color.
William Kenneth Teets, Director at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory, said the shower has one of the highest “zenith hourly rates,” which indicates the number of meteors visible in an hour when the radiant is at maximum altitude. In good years with no moon to interfere, one might see up to 150 meteors per hour or one about every 30 seconds.
"They hit our atmosphere at a slower rate than other meteor showers, allowing them to burn longer and be visible for a greater period of time," he said. "These meteors also tend to be brighter than those of other showers. The combination of high ZHR, slower burn speed and bright meteors makes for a great shower."
In 2023 the Geminids meteor shower will be active for much of December, but will be at its peak on Dec. 13 and 14.
Read ahead for what else to know about the meteor shower and how to view it.
What time does the Geminids meteor shower begin?
The meteor shower begins at around 9 or 10 p.m. and lasts until dawn.
Where to see the Geminids meteor shower?
Due to a nearly 24-hour broad maximum, the meteor shower is visible across the globe, with optimal viewing times during the night and predawn hours.
In Nashville, you will want to get as far away from the city lights as possible. Though the brighter meteors may be visible from moderately light polluted skies, dark skies will permit you to see more of the faint meteors you would have otherwise missed, said Teets.
How to best view the Geminids meteor shower?
Teets said the best way to view the shower is to get cozy with some blankets, maybe a pillow and lie on your back in a dark, open area so you can see as much of the sky as possible. No need to bring a telescope or binoculars as they will severely restrict your field of view.
NASA recommends the following tips to view the meteor shower:
Find an area well away from the city lights or street lights.
Lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at e@_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Geminids meteor shower peaks tonight: How to see it in Nashville
