2023 Geminids Meteor Shower (photo by Gerry Tietje)
Ben Eisenstein
Get ready to look up, Saddlebrooke Ranch! If you love a spectacular night sky show, December has a huge treat for you. The Geminids meteor shower—one of the year’s brightest and most reliable celestial events—is about to peak. Mark your calendars for the night of Dec. 13 into the early morning of Dec. 14!
These meteors or “shooting stars” are actually just tiny pieces of cosmic rock and dust hitting our atmosphere. Unlike most showers that originate from comets, the Geminids are special: they come from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.
When these little pieces zoom into our atmosphere at lightning speed, they burn up, creating those magnificent, bright streaks of light. At its peak, you could see an amazing 120 to 150 meteors per hour. Even if you catch just a few dozen, it’s still an awesome display.
The best time to view starts after midnight, the early morning of Dec. 14. This is when the shower’s “radiant”—the spot in the Gemini constellation where they appear to originate—is highest in the sky. Good news: you don’t need to find Gemini with a star chart; the meteors will shoot across the entire sky!
Viewing conditions should be good if the weather cooperates, because the Moon will be a thin waning crescent that won’t rise until about 2:30 a.m. That means the prime viewing window—those early, post-midnight hours—will be dark.
You don’t need any fancy equipment—just your eyes, patience, and a comfortable setup. Have a nice comfortable chair setup, dress warmly, and have a favorite warming beverage handy. SaddleBrooke Ranch is the perfect place for this, thanks to our night sky- friendly lighting rules amidst our naturally dark desert and mountain skies!