Posted in New Jersey December 08, 2020 by

The New Jersey Sky Saved The Best For Last; Enjoy The Brightest Meteor Shower Of The Year This December

The best thing about the Geminid Meteor Shower is that everyone in New Jersey can enjoy it. While we do have dark skies in some state parks, city lights limit meteor shower viewing in several areas. Fortunately, the Geminid Meteor Shower is set to be the best and brightest show of the year.

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The Geminids will be visible from now until December 17th.
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They will peak on the night of December 13th, into the early morning hours of December 14th. Midnight until 2 a.m. should make for the best viewing!
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This meteor shower frequently generates as many as 100 or more (up to 120) shooting stars per hour. Geminids will appear to radiate from a point in the sky just above the bright stars Castor and Pollux but can be spotted anywhere.
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Viewing conditions should be ideal as the moon will be in its waxing crescent phase, with only 2% illumination. This makes for a dark sky, perfect for spotting stars.
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Should you miss the Geminids, we're in for a second treat! The Ursids meteor shower will be visible from December 17th until December 26th. They are set to peak before dawn on December 22nd.
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Though the Ursids most often produce 5-10 meteors per hour, they have been known to overperform in the past. In 1986, viewers could enjoy 50 or more meteors per hour. In the years since, there have also been limited bursts with up to 100 meteors per hour.
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Enjoy one shower or both, and remember to make a wish upon a star. Staring up at the sky, bundled up tight, with loved ones nearby...doesn't sound like a bad night.
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Interestingly, while most meteor showers originate from comets, the Geminids are formed by asteroid fragments! The Ursids are linked to the 8P/Tuttle comet. Also in the sky over New Jersey this December is the rare Christmas Star, not seen in centuries.