Catch the 2021 Geminid Meteor Shower next week!

EarthSky says that the annual Geminid Meteor Shower that will peak next week is one of the year’s best:

The Geminids are a reliable shower for those who watch around 2 a.m. local time from a dark-sky location. We also often hear from those who see Geminid meteors in the late evening hours. This year, a waxing gibbous moon will be above the horizon during peak time for viewing. But it’ll set shortly afterwards, leaving the sky dark for watching meteors. Thus the best time to watch for Geminid meteors in 2021 is likely before dawn – say, from around 3 a.m. to dawn – on the morning of December 14.

It’s a somewhat narrow window for meteor-watching. But still worth a look!

On a dark night, near the peak of the shower, you can often catch 50 or more meteors per hour. On an optimum night for the Geminids, it’s possible to see 150 meteors per hour. A new moon on December 4 means that the peak of the shower coincides with a moon just a few days past first-quarter phase.

Click through for all the details but remember the key to success is finding dark skies!!

Ken took this photo way back in December of 2012. While School Lake had a sheet of ice then, we haven’t made it there yet in 2021! See more in Ken’s massive Skies Above gallery on Flickr & for sure head over to kenscottphotography.com to view & purchase prints, books & his 2022 Best of the Back Pages Calendar!!

PS: Ken is having an inventory reduction sale right now! Head over to his Facebook page for all the details.