• Tim Johnson

Geminid Meteor Shower

The year's best meteor shower takes place Tuesday night. The Geminid meteor shower is the most productive. You'll see far more meteors than the most popular meteor shower, the Perseid Meteor Shower. The best time this year will be before 10 p.m., when the waning gibbous moon rises in the east. It is a bright moon so it is very likely you'll miss a good part of the show later in the evening.

The Geminid Meteor Shower produces as many as 100 meteors in an hour of viewing. Don't go outside that night with that high an expectation. You'll be disappointed. Go outside early in the evening for a moonless show.

The meteors will appear to originate from the constellation Gemini, rising in the east, hence its name.

If the weather is more favorable on Wednesday night go outside too. The shower spreads through the two days.

The Perseid meteor shower may be more popular, but that is because the weather is friendlier. You'll be wearing a nice warm coat with hat and mittens to get the most out of the Geminids.

 

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., Dec. 9 5:56 4:11
Sat., Dec. 10 5:57 4:11
Sun., Dec. 11 5:58 4:11
Mon., Dec. 12 5:59 4:11
Tues., Dec. 13 5:59 4:11
Wed., Dec. 14 7:00 4:11
Thurs., Dec. 15 7:01 4:12
Fri., Dec. 16 7:02 4:12
Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
Dec. 2 43 28 T
Dec. 3 58 40 0.00
Dec. 4 59 37 0.32
Dec. 5 44 25 36
Dec. 6 53 36 0.00
Dec. 7 55 50 0.56
Dec. 8 57 49 0.42

 

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 51º F

Comments

Comment policy »

YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS

Subscribe or become a Friend of the Vineyard Gazette and receive our free newsletters and free and discounted tickets to Gazette events along with our award-winning news and photography.