The Boldest And Biggest Meteor Shower Of The Year Will Be On Display Above South Carolina In December
While multiple meteors can be seen nightly under a dark sky, meteor showers visible to observers on Earth only occur about 30 times each year. Stargazers wait almost all year for the opportunity to view one of the best meteor showers of the year, called the Geminids. Let’s look at the best times and the best places to view the Geminid meteor shower in South Carolina.
To understand the basics if you’re not already familiar with meteor showers, the Geminids differ from a majority of the other meteor showers we can experience in that they result from an asteroid rather than a comet.
The particular asteroid associated with the Geminid showers is called Phaethon and is an interesting blue rock that acts like a comet, a hybrid of sorts.
One thing that makes these showers so highly anticipated among stargazers is the fact that when there is no interference from moonlight, up to 150 meteors per hour may be seen at peak times, according to the American Meteor Society.
For this reason, it’s a good idea if you’re hoping to view this event to maximize your chances of seeing more of nature’s very own fireworks production. Even though South Carolina does not have any IDA-certified locations, some places are better than others.
Other state park locations that are excellent options as well include Edisto Beach State Park, the Battle of Rivers Bridge park located 76 miles slightly southwest of Columbia, and Jones Gap State Park in the upstate area of South Carolina near Spartanburg. The parks will be closing during or before optimal viewing times, however, so you would want to plan to camp or stay overnight if you want to experience the shower from any of these locations.
Litchfield Beach on Pawley’s Island is also a top recommended place for dark sky viewing.
And there are plenty of scenic overlooks scattered across the upstate mountainous region of South Carolina that provide the type of atmosphere conducive for sky-watching.
Regardless of which location you choose, the most important thing is finding a secluded viewing spot away from city lights. If you’re newer to the activity, be aware that once you’re at your chosen location, your eyes may take 15 to 20 minutes to get used to the dark, so allow some time for them to adjust, and be sure to dress for the weather. You can use the Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map or the table at TimeAndDate.com to find the direction of the radiant. The higher the radiant is above the horizon, the more meteors you are likely to see. Peak viewing dates for the Geminid meteor shower in 2022 are Tuesday, December 13 through Wednesday, December 14.
Have you ever seen the Geminid meteor shower? Do you have a favorite viewing spot? Share with us in the comments below!
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
