‘One of the best’ meteor showers to peak this week. When to spot Geminids in Lexington

Meredith Howard

The Geminid meteor shower will take place this week, and Central Kentucky stargazers could see 30 to 40 meteors per hour depending on weather conditions.

The event is considered to be “one of the best and most reliable” annual meteor showers, according to NASA.

The shower will begin around 10 or 11 p.m. Dec. 13, NASA says, and will peak around 7 a.m. Dec. 14. If you’re up at 2 a.m. Dec. 14 you may see more meteors, but it’s possible to spot Geminids until Dec. 17.

“The show will last for most of the night, so you have multiple opportunities to spot the brilliant streaks of light across our sky,” NASA’s website reads.

When the weather is perfect and the shower is at its peak activity level, you can spot anywhere from 100 to 150 Geminids per hour, NASA reports. But this week’s waning gibbous moon will interfere, reducing visible meteors.

NASA offers these stargazing tips to improve your experience:

  • Find an area away from the city and streetlights.

  • Bundle up and lie flat on your back with your feet facing south.

  • It will take approximately 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust and see the meteors. Refrain from looking at your cell phone or other bright objects to keep your eyes adjusted.

The 2022 Geminid meteor shower began Nov. 19, and it originates from 3200 Phaethon, which NASA describes as an asteroid or possible “rock comet.”

Geminid meteors travel about 22 miles per second or 79,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. The Geminids first appeared in the mid-1800s, and they are bright and typically yellow.

Astronomy events in Lexington

The Bluegrass Amatuer Astronomy Club meets monthly from March to November, and 2023 stargazing dates have been set. The group meets at Raven Run and there may be a $1 charge for members of the public.

The University of Kentucky hosts SkyTalk events each month, and past topics have included ancient observatories, possible signs of alien life and the Milky Way. More information about UK’s SkyTalks can be found online.

You can also check out the online Night Sky Network to search for stargazing events near you.

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