This December will be a spectacular month for stargazers as two prominent meteor showers are set to illuminate the night sky. The Geminids, one of the best meteor showers of the year, is expected to make its appearance from December 7-17, with a peak on the nights of December 13 and 14. During this time, observers can anticipate between 120 to 150 shooting stars per hour, as these bright, fast-moving meteors streak across the sky.
But that's not all - just behind the Geminids' trail lies another smaller meteor shower, known as the Ursids, which will make its appearance from December 17 through Christmas. The Ursids are expected to peak with around 10-20 shooting stars per hour on the longest night of the year, the winter solstice on December 21.
Astronomers and enthusiasts alike are abuzz with excitement about these celestial events, with Bart Fried, a member of the American Astronomical Society, describing December as "going to be a fun month." Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, adds that the Geminids will make for a great viewing experience, especially when paired with crescent moon phases that allow stargazers to observe more clearly.
The year's last full moon, which occurs on December 4, is also worth noting. This will be a supermoon, or perigee-syzygy, making the moon appear about 10% bigger and brighter than usual due to its elliptical orbit. However, this event might not be ideal for stargazing, as it's the most inopportune time.
As the night sky comes alive with the Geminids and Ursids, astronomers will also have the chance to observe the winter constellations, including Orion the Hunter, whose return marks a milestone in the season. This iconic constellation is relatively easy to spot due to its distinctive straight line of three bright stars forming its belt.
For those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of these celestial wonders, stargazing spots like Inwood Hill Park will provide an ideal viewing experience, free from urban light pollution. As the year draws to a close, December promises to be a memorable month for anyone who gazes up at the starry night sky.
But that's not all - just behind the Geminids' trail lies another smaller meteor shower, known as the Ursids, which will make its appearance from December 17 through Christmas. The Ursids are expected to peak with around 10-20 shooting stars per hour on the longest night of the year, the winter solstice on December 21.
Astronomers and enthusiasts alike are abuzz with excitement about these celestial events, with Bart Fried, a member of the American Astronomical Society, describing December as "going to be a fun month." Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, adds that the Geminids will make for a great viewing experience, especially when paired with crescent moon phases that allow stargazers to observe more clearly.
The year's last full moon, which occurs on December 4, is also worth noting. This will be a supermoon, or perigee-syzygy, making the moon appear about 10% bigger and brighter than usual due to its elliptical orbit. However, this event might not be ideal for stargazing, as it's the most inopportune time.
As the night sky comes alive with the Geminids and Ursids, astronomers will also have the chance to observe the winter constellations, including Orion the Hunter, whose return marks a milestone in the season. This iconic constellation is relatively easy to spot due to its distinctive straight line of three bright stars forming its belt.
For those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of these celestial wonders, stargazing spots like Inwood Hill Park will provide an ideal viewing experience, free from urban light pollution. As the year draws to a close, December promises to be a memorable month for anyone who gazes up at the starry night sky.
two meteor showers in one month is like a dream come true! the geminids and ursids are gonna light up the sky with those crazy fast meteors 
i'm planning to sneak out of the house on dec 13 and 14 to catch the peak of the geminids... and who cares about the supermoon on dec 4? it's not like it's gonna ruin our stargazing experience or anything 
but can u imagine seeing the ursids at christmas time?! 
i'm defo gonna bundle up and head to inwood hill park with my friends to catch a glimpse of those shooting stars... fingers crossed the weather is clear! 
so the world's gonna come together to ooh and ahh over some shooting stars... sounds like a total snooze fest if you ask me 
but hey, I guess it's better than braving the crowds at inwood hill park on christmas 
anyway, supermoon on dec 4 tho? that's actually kinda cool... or is it just gonna be a distraction from the actual astronomy stuff? 
it was always so magical... and now they're talking about meteor showers and supermoons 
anyway, i'm stoked for these celestial events, can't wait to get out of the city and find a spot with no light pollution to witness the Geminids and Ursids. been too long since I've seen some real stars up close 
. And hey, if you can't handle a bigger moon (aka supermoon), there are still plenty of other things to look at... like Orion's belt, which I'm pretty sure is just as impressive in real life 
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! I mean, two meteor showers in one month? That's like, stargazing heaven! The Geminids are gonna put on a show, with those 120-150 meteors per hour... my jaw's already dropping thinking about it 
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. And hey, who doesn't love stargazing? It's like nature's own light show up there. I'm def heading to Inwood Hill Park to check out the views... should be pretty epic 
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and there's another one behind it like that too... i wonder if its gonna be better than last year's geminids... anyone know if the winter solstice will make a big difference or what? 
. If you're lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these celestial wonders, grab a blanket and head to Inwood Hill Park – those city lights are gonna be a major bummer 
. But hey, it's worth it for this epic stargazing experience 
️!
. Orion the Hunter is back, too, which is always a highlight for me 
. Can't wait to get out there and see what the night sky has in store!
150 shooting stars per hour is insane, but yeah that's kinda ruined by the full moon on dec 4 tho 
Can't they just give us a break for one month?! Just kidding... kinda. Anyway, I'm totally down to grab my telescope and head out to Inwood Hill Park on the 13th or 14th. Who's with me?! 