Posted in Kansas December 10, 2019 by Clarisa

One Of The Biggest Meteor Showers Of The Year Will Be Visible In Kansas In December

Gazing up at the sky is something you’ll do in Kansas a lot anyways, but this meteor shower is perfect for anyone that wants to see what the sky has to offer at night. After you’ve found the perfect spot to relax, enjoy one of the biggest meteor showers of the year right here in Kansas. Make sure to bring your camera!

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In December, Kansas is expecting the arrival of the Gemenid meteor shower, often called the "King of Meteor Showers" for it's incredible visibility.

In 2019, the Gemenids are active in the sky from December 4 through 17th, though peak visibility happens on the night of the 14th.

This means that on that night, you can see *up to* 120 meteors per hour as long as you're in full darkness and the radiant point is straight above you.

However, there will be a full moon that will probably keep the fainter meteors from being seen, but it shouldn't change the brighter ones. You should still see plenty, even though you might not see 120 an hour.

Going off of the center of Kansas, the shower won't be visible until it rises in the eastern sky sometime around 18:14 on the 14th, but it varies depending on how far east or west you are in Kansas. However, once it starts, it will be visible until dawn as long as the moon doesn't get in the way too much.

At the beginning of the shower's visibility, you'll see more longer streaks across the sky, and when it's at the peak of 84° above horizon, the trails will be shorter as if you're viewing it from underneath. Still, make sure to take plenty of photos if you have a long-exposure camera handy!

You'll want to find a dark spot in Kansas, away from the lights of civilization, to really enjoy these meteors shooting through the sky. Bring friends, and make a night of it!

Maybe one of these spots in Kansas showing endless skies will be dark enough to enjoy this event. If you have a surefire dark spot, tell us about it in the comments!