Geminids: The Final Big Meteor Display of 2025, Arriving Soon
This meteor shower can deliver dozens of shooting stars per hour under ideal conditions.
Joe Hindy
3 min read
December is a bustling month packed with holiday preparations, the winter solstice, and the occasional aurora borealis. It also hosts one of the year's finest meteor showers: the Geminids. Although this shower often flies under the radar compared to the popular Perseids, it can rival it for meteor richness, especially if the cold doesn’t deter you from stepping outside to watch.
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The Geminids are renowned for bright, colorful shooting stars. The shower began on December 4 and runs through December 17. It isn’t the longest-running shower, but it boasts one of the most active peaks among named meteor showers, with the potential to exceed 100 meteors per hour in a strong year, according to the American Meteor Society. The peak this year falls on the evening of December 13, which is conveniently a weekend.
What makes the Geminids special is their origin: the 3200 Phaethon asteroid. This is unusual because most meteor showers trace back to comets, which shed tails of ice, dust, and rock. Asteroids, being rocky and metallic, typically lack tails, so Phaethon’s tail is a distinctive feature. The only other major meteor shower fed by an asteroid rather than a comet is January’s Quadrantids. Most other showers originate from comets.
How and where to watch the Geminids
The Geminids’ peak occurs on the evening of Saturday, December 13. During peak hours, the American Meteor Society notes that as many as 150 meteors per hour can be visible, though NASA’s estimates tend to be more modest, ranging from 40 to 50 meteors per hour with a peak around December 12. For the best chances of seeing them, plan to observe on both nights to catch any possible variations.
As with all meteor showers, the name points you to the radiant—the area in the sky where the meteors appear to originate. For the Geminids, that radiant lies in the Gemini constellation. Sky maps from Stellarium show Gemini rising in the eastern sky just after sunset in the Northern Hemisphere, often in conjunction with Jupiter. If you locate Jupiter, you’re likely looking in the right direction for Geminids, which will streak across the sky before setting on the western horizon at sunrise.
To maximize your viewing, follow the standard stargazing guidelines. Bright city lights will wash out many meteors, whereas suburban locations usually yield a few. The ideal experience happens away from heavy light pollution, in an area free from bright artificial lights. Simply face toward Gemini and Jupiter and wait. Allow about 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
No special equipment is required to enjoy the Geminids, and most experts advise against using binoculars or telescopes, as they narrow your field of view and may cause you to miss meteors. The Moon will be about 30% full, which means its light should not significantly hinder meteor viewing.
Experts also emphasize practical preparation. Michelle Nichols, the Adler Planetarium’s director of public observing, suggests dressing warmly since you’ll likely be outdoors for hours. She also advises skipping alcohol, which can reduce body heat, especially in the Northeastern U.S., where a polar vortex is pushing temperatures downward. Dress appropriately and prioritize safety while you enjoy this spectacular celestial show.
