The annual Geminid meteor shower is expected to make its return this year to view nationwide.

This shower will produce up to 120 meteors per hour with some bright fireballs.

“Earth will encounter tiny sand-sized particles from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon with some gravel size pieces producing bright dramatic fireballs that will light up the sky as well as the ground,” said astronomy educator Gary Boyle. 

The meteors will harmlessly vaporize some 80 kilometres above the ground at 35 kilometres per second.

“You don’t need any special equipment like a telescope to view the meteor shower. These are just shooting stars and can be quite spectacular,” said Boyle.

Boyle said the Geminid meteor shower will peak on the night of Dec. 13 into the morning of Dec. 14.

More details about the Geminid meteor shower can be found by clicking here.

Gary Boyle – The Backyard Astronomer: Gary Boyle