Geminids meteor shower December 2016

[Boris13c]

Geminids meteor shower 2016: Places, times to see shooting stars light up December sky with Full Cold Moon

The Geminids meteor shower will light up the night sky this week, peaking in the overnight hours of Dec. 13-14. At its highest, the Geminids can deliver as many as 120 meteors per hour traveling at speeds of up to 22 miles per second.

The best viewing opportunity will be around 2 a.m. locally in the early morning hours of Dec. 14.

This year's viewing, however, could be hampered by the full moon. The Geminids, typically one of the most reliable meteor showers in terms of viewing, are known for being bright and colorful so sky watchers shouldn't lose hope. The meteors are also visible the nights before and after the peak, so it's worth taking a look at the sky during the evening of Dec. 12 to the morning of Dec. 15.

The meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini but that doesn't mean you should only concentrate on that spot. The meteors will appear in all parts of the sky and this year, will be joined by Jupiter, the sole visible planet during December, according to EarthSky. Jupiter will be visible from around 2 a.m. until dawn.