A celestial treat for Michigan: Geminid meteor shower hits peak this weekend
- The annual Geminid meteor shower will peak starting Friday
- Geminids may be visible through Dec. 24
- Stargazers can catch the meteor shower between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The annual Geminid meteor shower is underway, and sky watchers in Michigan may be able to catch the astronomical phenomenon at its peak starting Friday night.
Geminids are typically visible between Nov.19 through Dec. 24, according to Space.com.
The Geminid meteor shower is usually the most active meteor shower in the northern hemisphere. This year, however, a nearly full moon could put a damper on the show, according to The American Meteor Society. It says the moon will be 92% full. Under a dark sky with no moon, an observer otherwise could see up to 120 meteors streak by each hour.
Meteors are little pieces of rock or dust left behind by comets. When they collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they can create colorful streaks in the sky.
When is the best time to watch the meteor shower?
The shower will be visible between 9 and 10 p.m. local time, according to NASA. Geminids are most visible at 2 a.m.
Will I see anything?
The best conditions for watching the meteor shower are clear, dark skies, but parts of the state will also get precipitation that may impact visibility.
On Friday night it will be partly cloudy in southeast Michigan. And there's a 70% chance of precipitation Saturday night.
In Grand Rapids, partly cloudy skies are expected on Friday night. There is a slight chance of precipitation Saturday night.
Stargazers in northern Michigan may have a better chance of spotting the meteor shower Friday night when the skies will be mostly clear. But there's a 40% chance of precipitation Saturday night.
Similarly in the Upper Peninsula, the sky will be mostly clear on Friday night, with a 40% chance of precipitation Saturday night.
Best places in Michigan to watch the meteor shower
The best place to view the meteor shower is under a clear dark sky away from city lights.
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In Michigan, there are six dark sky state parks, three international dark sky parks, and an international dark sky sanctuary.
When will the next one be?
If cloudy skies and snow showers make it too hard for you to see the Geminid meteor shower this time, don’t worry. The Ursid meteor shower will be active between Dec. 17 and 26, and will peak between Dec. 22 and 23, according to Space.com.
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