This week brings us what is often regarded as the most rewarding of the yearly meteor displays, even outshining the renowned Perseids of August: December’s Geminid meteor shower.
However, similar to last month’s Leonid meteors, potential skywatchers should be aware of a significant challenge in observing this year’s Geminid performance: the Moon. Unfortunately, 2024’s full moon falls on Dec. 15, which will severely disrupt, if not nearly prevent, viewing of the shower’s peak, expected during the overnight hours of Dec. 13–14. While the Geminids are known for offering good activity before midnight due to the Gemini constellation’s favorable position from 10 p.m. onward, bright moonlight will dominate the sky that night, making serious observation of these meteors difficult.
Already active
The Geminids have already begun, showing weak and scattered activity since around Dec. 7. However, a noticeable increase in meteor activity is anticipated this week, culminating in their peak on Dec. 13.
Historically, Geminids are described as “bright and intensely colored,” with most meteors exhibiting a yellowish hue. This shower is known for producing moderately slow meteors that move at about half the speed of a typical Perseid or Leonid meteor. Many of these meteors are faint, with only a few of medium brightness, making them vulnerable to the glare of this year’s full Moon.
Occasionally, a spectacular Geminid fireball will streak across the sky, bright enough to grab attention even under moonlit conditions. As astronomers David Levy and Stephen Edberg write in their book Observe Meteors: “If you have not yet seen a mighty Geminid fireball arcing gracefully across an expanse of sky, then you have not seen a meteor.”
Damage control
Given the circumstances, a strategy to mitigate the moon’s impact—call it “damage control”—is possible for the 2024 Geminids.
The best viewing opportunities this year will likely occur during the predawn hours on several mornings leading up to the full moon. During these times, the Gemini constellation, the radiant point of the meteors, will be high in the northwest sky.
Dark sky “windows” will be available between moonset and dawn on the mornings of Dec. 11, 12, and 13. On Dec. 11, there will be over 2.5 hours of darkness before dawn. This reduces to just under 1.5 hours on Dec. 12 and only about 15 minutes on Dec. 13.
Here’s an example for Dec. 12: In San Francisco, there will be a 95-minute window of dark skies starting at moonset (4:17 a.m.) and lasting until dawn (5:42 a.m.). For locations like Seattle and Helena, no dark sky window will be available on Dec. 13 as dawn breaks before moonset.
Windows of dark sky opportunities for viewing the Geminid meteor shower
| Location | Dec. 11 – Moonset/Dawn | Dec. 12 – Moonset/Dawn | Dec. 13 – Moonset/Dawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2:33/5:22 | 3:52/5:32 | 5:13/5:23 |
| New York City | 2:43/5:31 | 4:00/5:32 | 5:20/5:33 |
| Miami | 2:50 5:35 | 3:57/5:36 | 5:05/5:36 |
| Chicago | 2:42/5:28 | 4:01/5:28 | 5:21/5:29 |
| Kansas City | 3:07/5:51 | 4:23/5:52 | 5:41/5:53 |
| Houston | 2:58/5:41 | 4:07/5:42 | 5:18/5:43 |
| Denver | 2:52/5:43 | 4:09/5:35 | 5:27/5:35 |
| Helena | 3:33/6:12 | 4:57/6:13 | 6:23/ — |
| Albuquerque | 2:52 5:34 | 4:05/5:35 | 5:20/5:35 |
| Seattle | 3:19/5:55 | 4:44/5:56 | 6:11/ — |
| San Francisco | 3:02/5:41 | 4:17/5:42 | 5:34/5:42 |
| Los Angeles | 2:39/5:19 | 3:52/5:20 | 5:06/5:20 |
During these windows, it’s possible to see a dozen or more Geminid meteors per hour. Under ideal conditions without moonlight, a single observer might witness up to 120 meteors per hour on the peak night—an impressive rate that won’t be feasible this year.
Just wait…
While this year’s conditions for viewing the Geminids are challenging, next year will tell a different story. The peak is expected at 2 a.m. EST on Dec. 14, 2025, placing eastern North America in an excellent position to see the meteors at their projected maximum of 120 per hour, with Gemini overhead.
Additionally, the moon will be in a waning crescent phase, only 27% illuminated, and won’t rise until about 2:10 a.m., providing near-perfect viewing conditions. Fans of the old Brooklyn Dodgers used to say, and it applies equally to Geminid enthusiasts: “Just wait until next year!”
