Geminid meteor shower: Visual guide on when and where to get the best view

Every year, the Geminid meteor shower peaks in mid-December and is regarded as one of the best and most consistent meteor showers, according to NASA.

The Geminids are active from Nov. 19 to Dec. 24 and are expected to peak on the nights of Dec. 13 and 14, according to Space.com. But this year's viewing may be hindered by the brightness of the nearly full moon. The meteors may appear fainter than their typical bright streaks.

Unlike most meteor showers that emanate from a comet, the Geminids originate from an asteroid – asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which was discovered in 1983. The asteroid has an unusual blue hue and an extremely erratic orbit, which causes it to pass close to the sun before moving outside Mars' orbit. One orbit takes 1.4 Earth years, according to Space.com.

Unable to view our graphics? Click here to see them. 

The debris stream created by asteroid 3200 Phaethon is massive, and Earth passes through it once every year in mid-December.

Although the shower is best viewed during the predawn hours, activity typically begins around 9 or 10 p.m., according to NASA. What's more, the shower is visible across the globe.

Geminid meteor shower visibility map

Meteor showers get their names from the radiant's location, the point in the sky where the meteors appear. The radiant location is typically a star or constellation. The Geminid radiant is in the Gemini constellation.

The shower is known for its vivid colors and high intensity. It can fall slowly and even produce fireballs. Many shooting stars show up as yellowish streaks.

When to watch the Geminid meteor shower

The shower can be best viewed around 2 a.m. local time, when the radiant reaches its highest point in the sky, according to Space.com.

What does a meteor shower look like?

As Earth travels through the stream of debris left by asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the debris enters our atmosphere. The meteor showers appear as streaks of bright light, sometimes called "shooting stars." The meteor tails will all seem to radiate from one point in the night sky as they burn up and leave long trails, according to NASA.

When will the next meteor showers occur?

Three meteor showers are active now: the Northern Taurids, the Leonids and the Geminids. The last two meteor shower in 2024 are the Ursids and Quadrantids, according to the American Meteor Society:

• Ursids: Active Dec. 16-26; peak Dec. 21-22.
• Quadrantids: Active Dec. 26-Jan. 16; peak Jan. 2-3.

2025's meteor showers

Here are the projected times for the strongest annual meteor showers in 2025, according to the International Meteor Organization:

• Lyrids: Active April 15-30; peak April 21-22.
• Eta Aquariids: Active April 20-May 21; peak May 3-4.
• Southern delta Aquariids: Active July 18-Aug. 12; peak July 29-30.
• Alpha Capricornids: Active July 12-Aug. 12; peak July 29-30.
• Perseids: Active July 17-Aug. 23; peak Aug. 12-13.
• Orionids: Active Oct. 2-Nov. 12; peak Oct. 22-23.
• Southern Taurids: Active Sept. 23-Nov. 4; peak Nov. 26-27.
• Leonids: Active Nov. 6-30; peak Nov. 17-18.
• Geminids: Active Dec. 4-20; peak Dec. 14-15.
• Ursids: Active Dec. 17-26; peak Dec. 22-23.

This story was updated to add new information.

CONTRIBUTING Eric Lagatta and Jim Sergent

SOURCE EarthSky.org, Space.com, American Meteor Society, International Meteor Organization, Paste BN research