The Geminids are one of the year’s most reliable meteor showers. In 2026 they are active from 4–17 December, with the peak expected overnight on 13–14 December, according to NASA.

Under dark skies, NASA suggests observers may see around 40–50 meteors an hour. Actual numbers depend on cloud, light pollution and the time of night; the thin crescent Moon is expected to provide favourable conditions at the peak.

What is the Geminid meteor shower?

The Geminids are associated with asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Each year Earth passes through a stream of debris; particles enter the atmosphere at around 35 kilometres per second and produce the streaks of light we call meteors.

The Geminids have been observed since the mid-1800s. Phaethon, which astronomers linked to the shower, was discovered in 1983.

Geminids can appear bright and colourful, and can be seen across the sky.

How to see the shower

Look from around 9–10pm: Geminid activity can begin before midnight. The radiant is highest around 2am local time, making the hours after midnight a good time to watch. You don’t need a telescope or binoculars; look up and take in as much of the sky as possible.

Remember to stay as far away from artificial light as possible, and allow some time for your eyes to adjust to the dark.

Have fun and send in any photographs to our Facebook page, we’d love to see them 🙂

The Ursids follow in December. The International Meteor Organization’s 2026 observing calendar predicts a maximum at 10pm GMT on 22 December, while its online calendar lists 21–22 December as the peak night. Bright moonlight is likely to make the shower harder to see.

Illustrative night-sky photograph: Michał Mancewicz / Unsplash.