What a way to end off the year. The Geminid meteor shower is coming our way this December 2024, and it’s said to be the brightest and most dazzling one of the year – even more so than the Orionid meteor shower from a few months prior. To ensure that you don’t miss out on this phenomenon occurring across Singapore’s skies, read on for everything you need to know including where, when, and how to best view it.
What is the Geminid meteor shower?
The Geminid meteor shower is pretty unique, in that it’s formed by debris from the 3200 Phaeton asteroid – unlike other meteor showers, such as the Orionid meteor shower, which come from comets. As these asteroid debris hurtle towards earth, they heat up and create a trail behind them, resulting in impressive streaks or ‘shooting stars’ across the sky.
Often peaking in mid-December, the Geminids appear right near the Gemini constellation, hence the name. It’s said to be the most radiant and beautiful meteor shower of the year, so if you’ve missed other meteor showers like the Perseids meteor shower, this is one you’d want to try making time for.
When can we see the Geminid meteor shower in Singapore’s skies?
Though active between November 19 to December 24, the Geminid meteor shower is said to be at its peak between 13 and 14 December, 2024 according to The Observatory at Science Centre Singapore. This is when the Geminids are most visible to us earthlings, so mark your calendar for those optimum dates.
What time is best for viewing the Geminid meteor shower?
The darker the sky, the better your chance of witnessing the Geminid meteor shower – provided that there’s good weather sans rain and cloudiness. The Science Centre Singapore’s Observatory advises interested parties to keep a lookout for this shooting star display at night after 11pm. You’d also want to avoid places with tall buildings and plenty of street lamps, because the light from such sources would also hinder visibility.
How to watch the Geminid meteor shower?
The Geminid meteor shower doesn’t require any special equipment – you can simply view it via the naked eye, which is great news to us all. That said, why stop there? Amp up your experience with a pair of binoculars, a trusty telescope, or a DSLR camera with a hefty zoom lens to really get a good eyeful of this magical show in the skies.
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