2018 Geminids meteor shower

2018 Geminids meteor shower

2018 Geminids meteor shower will peak between December 13 and 14 with conditions being fair with a moderate amount of LP (light pollution) due to the first quarter Moon. The Geminids can be observed annually between December 4 and December 17, with peak activity should be around December 14. Most meteor showers are associated with comets but the Geminids shower is from the debris of an asteroid (3200 Phaethon) The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini and the asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit around the Sun. Since the Moon is at the first quarter it will make viewing conditions decent to see the meteors. OC Astronomy suggests for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere (Orange County) should try to view the Geminids after sunset December 13 and before sunrise December 14. It is not necessary to look in a particular direction to see a meteor shower, but OC Astronomy suggests looking towards the east to view the Geminids.

Below you can find the time and direction to view the 2018 Geminids meteor shower during the peak between December 13 and 14.

Geminids meteor shower for Orange County (Night between December 13 and December 14)
Time	Azimuth/Direction	Altitude
Thu 6:00 pm	48°	0.2° below
Thu 7:00 pm	56°	9.2°
Thu 8:00 pm	63°	19.9°
Thu 9:00 pm	69°	31.3°
Thu 10:00 pm	74°	43.1°
Thu 11:00 pm	79°	55.3°
Fri 12:00 midnight	84°	67.6°
Fri 1:00 am	90°	80.1°
Fri 2:00 am	258°	87.3°
Fri 3:00 am	273°	74.8°
Fri 4:00 am	278°	62.4°
Fri 5:00 am	283°	50.1°
Fri 6:00 am	288°	38.1°
Fri 7:00 am	294°	26.5°

Be sure to visit This Months Sky for more celestial events and for a local area to view celestial events, be sure to view our OC Star Spots