Geminids meteor shower to light up Australia’s southern hemisphere skies ahead of Christmas – here’s when and where to see it
Stargazers are beginning to prepare for the last natural light show of the year as it appears in Australia’s night sky in mid-December.
The Geminids meteor shower is known as the best of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will be visible until December 20 as hundreds of space rocks fly past Earth.
The exhibit was first discovered in 1862 and is now an annual event famous for the sheer number of meteors that streak across the night sky.
The greatest number of meteors will be visible on December 14 and 15, when the shower reaches its peak.
Experts advise spectators to get as far away from artificial light as possible if they want to see clearly and give themselves time for their eyes to adjust to the dark.
Called the best of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Geminids meteor shower will be visible through December 20, peaking on December 14 and 15.
A spokesperson for the Perth Observatory told 7News that anyone who wants to see it will have to trek all night to get the full experience.
“It’s one of the few meteor showers that have a reasonable window to get out and watch, as you can usually see them between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.,” they said.
‘Dress for the weather and make sure you’re comfortable, especially if you plan to be outside for a long time. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair; meteor watching can be a waiting game.
“Once you’ve found your viewing spot, lie on the ground and look up at the sky.”
The reason people are encouraged to stay up late is so that the moon sets and the light doesn’t interfere.
Anyone interested in watching the peak display on December 14 will have to plan their nights accordingly, as different states will experience this at different times.
Brisbane can see it start around 9pm, and anyone near Perth will have to wait until 10pm to see it.
Sydneysiders will see the meteors fly over Sydney around 11pm and further along the east coast Melbournians will see it at midnight. People in Adelaide have the best view at the same time, so half an hour later at 11:30 PM.
Visibility can vary depending on the moonlight and weather, with any cloud cover can drastically reduce the enjoyment of the experience.
Astronomers predict that stargazers could get lucky this year as the new moon means the sky will be darker, making the meteors even brighter.
The Geminids meteor shower is one of the most reliable and active meteor showers and is caused by debris from 3200 Phaethon, a five kilometer wide asteroid.
It gets its name from the constellation Gemini, where the meteors apparently originate, near the bright star Castor.
When the debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, it begins to burn rapidly, creating the beautiful tails that are the most visible part of the show.
Some of the debris can be as small as a grain of sand, which is why it is often called ‘dust’.
First observed in 1862, the meteor shower is revered for its reliability in recurrence, as well as the sheer number of meteors appearing per hour