FIELD NOTES / Meteor shower

The Geminids

Earth passes through debris associated with asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The estimated peak night is December 13–14.

Meteor shower concept illustration
Original Cosmic Civilizations diagram · schematic, out of scale

Plan the observation

2026-12-13 through 2026-12-14 · UTC calendar window · dates only, not contact times

Choose a dark site, let your eyes adapt and watch a broad area of sky. Trace trails backward toward Gemini to distinguish shower members.

Where to look

The radiant climbs higher at northern latitudes. The calendar window is approximate and local rates vary.

Primary reference · American Meteor Society · Reviewed 2026-11-03

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