Meteor shower

Geminids 2026

Active Fri 04 Dec, 00:00 → Thu 17 Dec, 23:59

Use your naked eyes. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, so a telescope's narrow field of view is not helpful.

Find a dark open area with a wide sky view. Allow 20–30 minutes for dark adaptation — avoid phone screens (or use Red Mode).

The radiant is in Gemini, but for longer meteor trails look roughly 30–60° away from it rather than directly at it.

Reference ZHR

150

Idealised zenithal hourly rate under perfect dark skies with the radiant at the zenith. Real observed rates are usually lower.

Speed

35 km/s

Parent body

3200 Phaethon

Global maximum

Mon 14 Dec, 08:00