Annual Geminid meteor shower will be visible in sky Wednesday evening

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The annual Geminid meteor shower will reach peak visibility in the sky Wednesday evening heading into Thursday morning. 

This year’s shower will produce up to 120 meteors per hour with some bright fireballs, according to astronomy educator Gary Boyle. 

Boyle says this meteor shower is expected to be “one of the best ones this year.”

“Meteor showers occur as we plow through the dusty debris of comets that round the sun,” said  Boyle.

“But in this case, it’s actually a dead asteroid — the 3200 Phaethon, with some gravel-sized pieces producing bright, dramatic fireballs that will light up the sky as well as the ground.”

According to Boyle, the meteors will harmlessly vapourize approximately 80 kilometres above the ground at a slow 35 kilometres per second, compared to the Perseid meteor showers in August at twice that speed.

“A few meteors can be seen starting at about 7 p.m. locally when the constellation Gemini is low in the northeast. Greater numbers will be seen as the constellation rises higher throughout the night,” said Boyle. 

Boyle says the best time to watch is between midnight and 1 a.m. 

“The moon will not interfere this year. This is a must-see event.”

The astronomer recommends heading out of town for the best chances of visibility. 

“You want to get away from buildings, trees — any obstructions,” said Boyle. 

Boyle says thursday night is expected to “give good numbers” if the skies are clear and cloudless. 

More information about the meteor shower can be found on Boyle’s website.