Tonight’s main event is the Geminid meteor shower, which is currently at or just past its peak. The best time to look is late tonight into the early morning hours.
Best time tonight
For most locations, the Geminids are best between about midnight and dawn local time, with a sweet spot around 2–4 a.m. when the radiant in Gemini is high and meteor rates are highest. You can still see meteors starting around 10 p.m. once Gemini is well above the eastern horizon, but numbers will be lower than after midnight.
Where to look in the sky
The Geminids appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini, near the bright stars Castor and Pollux northeast of Orion. You do not need to stare directly at Gemini; instead, lie back and scan a wide area of the sky 40–60 degrees around that point to catch longer, brighter streaks.
Viewing tips
- Go to the darkest place you can, away from city lights, and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
- Avoid looking at your phone or any bright lights, and if the Moon is up, keep it out of your direct field of view to see fainter meteors.
