Every year, they dazzle us during a magnificent nocturnal ballet. During the night of December 13th to 14th and at dawn, the Geminids rain of shooting stars will reach its peak activity. This is the ideal opportunity to practice astronomy with the naked eye, especially as the conditions should be favourable and allow the observation of more than a hundred meteors per hour.
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Observation tips
To have the best chance of observing the Geminids, remember that a dark and clear sky is important: try to get away from sources of light pollution, and ideally, get out a little early. Your eyes need time to get used to the darkness, and you will be more likely to see as many of them as possible.
Opt for a comfortable observation post and cover up! With the moon approaching the first quarter, consider starting your observation in the second half of the night so you will not be bothered by its brightness.
Shooting stars all year long
Even if you miss the Geminids this year due to illness or travel, do not worry. Meteor showers are present all year, with nearly 70 showers spread over the year. Of course, only a small number deserves our attention, but it leaves you all the same with the following: Quadrantids, Lyrides, Eta aquarids, Aristides or Leonidas. So there is still plenty to see!
