Geminids meteor shower peaks in NYC: Where, when to watch
NEW YORK - Twinkle, twinkle, little meteor shower!
The Geminid meteor shower, arguably one of the best meteor showers of the year, will be peak again Thursday, according to NASA.
Even New Yorkers, surrounded by light pollution, will be able to catch glimpses of several shooting stars.
Here's what you need to know about watching the Geminids in New York, New Jersey and beyond:
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Geminid meteor shower peaks in mid-December thanks to this puzzling asteroid
The Geminid meteor shower peak is in mid December this year, alongside a special moon that will allow better viewing conditions for stargazers to spot meteors to end 2023.
Places to see the Geminids in NYC
On the East Coast, the best time to start looking for Geminids will be early morning Thursday , according to NASA.
The overall duration of the shower will last until December 24.
To see the meteors, stargazers should wait in the dark under the stars for at least 30 minutes to allow their eyes to adjust.
To spot meteors, it’s usually best to have a dark sky away from city lights.
Here are the best places to see the meteor shower in and around the city:
- The High Line
- Governors Island
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Fire Island
- Lincoln Center - Josie Robertson Plaza and Hearst Plaza
- Montauk Point State Park
- Harriman State Park
The constellations of Orion the hunter and Eridanus the river at right, with the bonus of a Geminid meteor below Orion, through Lepus the hare. This is a stack of 5 x 2-minute exposures with the 35mm Canon lens at f/25 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600,
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What is a Geminid meteor shower?
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the best and brightest meteor showers of the year, according to NASA.
The Geminids occur when the Earth makes its annual passage through the path of a comet-like asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.
The path is speckled with bits and pieces that have broken off of 3200 Phaethon.
A meteor (L) from the Geminids meteor shower enters the Earth's atmosphere past the stars Castor and Pollux (two bright stars, R) on December 12, 2009 above Southold, New York. (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Those particles then fall onto Earth as the planet passes through, burning up in the sky and creating the Geminid meteor shower.
According to astronomers, Phaethon acts like a comet because it brightens and forms a tail near the sun. But studies show that the tail isn't dusty like a comet.
The name of the meteor shower comes from the Gemini constellation because the meteors appear to light up from the constellation, but they do not originate from it.
According to NASA, the Geminids are one of the few meteor showers associated with an asteroid rather than a comet. However, 3200 Phaethon is an odd object that astronomers are still trying to define.
Weather in NYC tonight
So far, the forecast for Thursday has been chilly with clear skies.
According to FOX 5 NY Meteorologist Mike Woods, expect sunshine throughout the day and a high of 41°.
Thursday will also see clear skies as temperatures head down into the 30s.
Unfortunately, during some mentor showers, the moon can wash out the sky and block the view.
Fortunately, though, there will be a waxing crescent on Wednesday, which won't prevent stargazers from seeing the meteors.
From Thursday, only 1-3% of the moon’s light will shine in the sky. +
Fox News contributed to this article.