The Geminids
Based on NASA, AMS and IMO references, with Moon figures from USNO. Our calculations, suggested observing nights and plain-language guide are labeled separately.
Our guideWhat this means for your night
Our plain-language reading of the sources and calculations on this page. It adds no new facts; the quotes below are the evidence.
What to expect. NASA notes that the Geminids come from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, rather than a comet. The AMS calls them usually the strongest shower of the year. Three published rates appear below, and each measures something different: the AMS says rates usually pass 60 to 70 an hour at maximum, NASA's 120 an hour is under perfect conditions, and the ZHR of 150 in our table is a standardized estimate for a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead. None is a forecast for a particular night; the Moon, your sky and the hour all matter, and 2027's Moon matters a lot.
Why this is the family shower. The AMS says the Geminids are the one major shower with good activity before midnight, because Gemini is well placed from 22:00, that is 10 p.m. That turns a pre-dawn alarm into a late evening. Our calculation puts the radiant highest around 2 a.m. local mean solar time, and NASA describes a nearly 24-hour broad maximum, so there is no single make-or-break hour.
2026 versus 2027. The two years are opposites. On the AMS peak night in 2026, USNO shows a waxing crescent, 19% lit on Dec 13 and 27% on Dec 14, the better of the two. For the 2027 maximum IMO warns that the full Moon will severely disturb visual observations, and USNO shows 98% lit on Dec 14 and 94% on Dec 15. In 2027, the brighter meteors are the ones likeliest to show through.
Tips that follow. The AMS says Geminids are often bright and intensely colored, which gives kids something to look for, and that persistent trains are not usually seen, so a meteor will usually be gone the moment you point. Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes, skip the binoculars, and look about halfway up.
A bit of history for the car ride. NASA says the Geminids first appeared in the mid-1800s, and the early showers were not noteworthy, with only 10 to 20 meteors an hour. The shower has grown into the one the AMS now calls usually the strongest of the year.
| Shower | Night | Published ZHR | Moon lit (USNO, each date) | Radiant highest: our calculation, approximate LMST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geminids 2026 | Dec 13–14, 2026 (AMS peak night) | 150 (AMS calendar) | Dec 13: waxing crescent, 19%; Dec 14: waxing crescent, 27% | 2 a.m. |
| Geminids 2027 | Dec 14–15, 2027 (our suggested night for the Eastern US; IMO gives the maximum as Dec 14, 2027, around 20:00 UT, which our conversion puts at Dec 14, 3:00 p.m. EST) | 150 (IMO 2027 calendar) | Dec 14: waning gibbous, 98%; Dec 15: waning gibbous, 94% | 2 a.m. |
LMST is local mean solar time, which can differ from your clock by an hour or more. The time the radiant is highest isn't a recommended start time; it can fall in twilight or daylight. Moon figures: USNO's one-day figure for each calendar date, requested for 39.83° N, 98.58° W (near the center of the contiguous US) at UTC−6. USNO doesn't say what time of day the figure applies to. Illumination only; check local moonrise and moonset.
Where they come from
“Unlike most meteor showers which originate from comets, the Geminids originate from an asteroid: 3200 Phaethon.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
When they're active
“The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, and meteor enthusiasts are certain to circle December 13th and 14th on their calendars.”
Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
Where to look
“The radiant – the point in the sky from which the Geminids appear to come – is the constellation Gemini, the "Twins."”.
Source: NASA meteor shower page
Geminids: radiant height and rise time, Dec 13, 2026
Our calculationFrom the radiant position on our calendar: right ascension (RA) 7.47 h, declination (Dec) +33° (AMS calendar data). Method on our About page.
| Latitude | Places near this latitude | Highest altitude | Radiant rises (approximate LMST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° N | Houston, New Orleans | 87° | 6:30 p.m. |
| 40° N | Columbus, Denver | 83° | 6 p.m. |
| 48° N | Seattle, northern Minnesota | 75° | 5 p.m. |
Geminids: radiant height and rise time, Dec 14, 2027
Our calculationFrom the radiant position on our calendar: right ascension (RA) 112°, declination (Dec) +33° (IMO 2027 calendar). Method on our About page.
| Latitude | Places near this latitude | Highest altitude | Radiant rises (approximate LMST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30° N | Houston, New Orleans | 87° | 6:30 p.m. |
| 40° N | Columbus, Denver | 83° | 5:30 p.m. |
| 48° N | Seattle, northern Minnesota | 75° | 5 p.m. |
Highest altitude is when the radiant crosses due north-south. The rise time is when it clears a flat horizon, ignoring refraction, twilight and terrain.
How many to expect
“During its peak, 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
“Geminid rates usually pass 60-70/hour at maximum.”
Source: AMS major meteor showers
ZHR is a standardized rate: what one observer would count in an hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant straight overhead. It isn't a forecast, and what you count is usually lower.
What they look like
“The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored. Due to their medium-slow velocity, persistent trains are not usually seen.”
Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
Famous displays
“The Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s. However, the first showers were not noteworthy with only 10 to 20 meteors seen per hour.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
How to watch
“This is the one major shower that provides good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward.”
Source: AMS meteor shower calendar
“The Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours and are visible across the globe due to a nearly 24-hour broad maximum.”
Source: NASA meteor shower page
“In the night of the Geminid (004 GEM) maximum on December 14 (centred around 20h UT), the full moon is close to its northernmost position on the ecliptic and thus severely disturbs visual observations.”
Source: IMO 2027 Meteor Shower Calendar (PDF)
For any meteor shower
“Most meteor showers are best observed between midnight and dawn.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Find a dark location with an unobstructed view and give your eyes at least 20–30 minutes to adjust. Full dark adaptation takes longer, so avoid bright lights and phone screens.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Meteor showers are best observed with the unaided eye. Binoculars and telescopes restrict your field of view, making it harder to catch meteors appearing across the sky.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“Look toward a dark, clear part of the sky, roughly halfway between the horizon and directly overhead.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
“It is a standardized estimate of shower activity under ideal conditions: a very dark, clear sky with the radiant directly overhead. It is not the number most observers will actually see.”
Source: AMS meteor FAQ
How many meteors you actually see depends on the shower's activity that night, how dark your sky is, clouds, and how high the radiant is.
We don't know the weather on any given night. Check a forecast, and the calendar for the moon on each date.