Rockford Has A Front Row Seat For The Geminid Meteor Shower

The Geminids are usually one of the best meteor showers of the year, capable of producing 150 or more meteors per hour at a dark site. Another really cool aspect is that the meteors are often bright and colorful.

The Best Chances Of Seeing The Geminids Will Be In 10 Days

Wanting to give you plenty of time to plan ahead for late night/early morning viewing, I thought I'd give you the heads-up on the Geminids a week or so before they're happening. Depending on where you live, you might want to get away from city lights for the best views.

EarthSky.org:

The Geminid meteor shower – always a favorite among the annual meteor showers – should peak in 2021 on the night of Monday, December 13 into Tuesday, December 14. The Geminids are a reliable shower for those who watch around 2 a.m. local time from a dark-sky location.

You Should Be Able To See Some Meteors A Few Days Earlier Than December 13th

After all, the peak of the Geminids is on Monday the 13th going into Tuesday the 14th, but that's not the entire show. There's a pretty good buildup to the finale, and you might be able to see some of the streaks going across the sky as early as this weekend.

Best of all, you won't need any special equipment to see the Geminids, other than some warm clothing because the forecast says it's going to be cold while you're out looking up. Just give yourself an hour or more to take in the views. That way, your eyes will be fully adjusted to the dark conditions.

Planetary.org

All you need to watch a meteor shower is your eyes, patience, and a mostly cloud-free night. Go out, get comfortable, and stare at the sky. Typically the best time to see a meteor shower is between midnight and pre-dawn, because that's when you are on the leading side of the Earth, watching the comet debris come at you like rain hitting a car windshield.