How to See a Meteor Shower

Each year, vestiges of the early solar system manifest themselves with dazzling light shows in our atmosphere. From fragments of asteroids to pieces of comets, there is a certain predictability in meteor showers; when they will occur and how many a person can expect to see over a given period. The most famous of these is the Perseid meteor shower which occurs mid-July to late August but this is not the only show in town.

Although most people never witness these, meteor showers actually occur semi-regularly throughout the year. For best observation, it is recommended to view these celestial events where light pollution (house lights, street lights, etc.) are at a minimum. A full moon can also diminish the effect but if the moon passes over your vantage point, even this may not be a problem.

The best time to view a meteor shower depends on the area you live. In the North Eastern US, the Geminid meteor shower is probably your best bet because it is observable during reasonable viewing hours (usually starts around 10:00pm though you might see a few the preceding hour). Unlike the Perseid or Lyrid meteor showers which often peak late at night in the North East and require you to stay up or set an alarm clock, the Geminid meteor shower is the one shower on the east coast that provides a spectacular show each year (weather permitting). The Geminid meteor shower appears mid-December and provided you have a good spot to view it, you can expect to see anywhere from 6-12+ really amazing meteors on the average shower and many smaller meteors as well.

For best results, a telescope is actually not recommended because telescopes restrict the viewing range and you want to see the widest area of sky possible. Stay inside if you can. No meteor shower is worth risking frost bite or being alone in the dark at night.

Most news feeds will announce when meteor showers will occur if you express an interest in these types of articles. Websites like timeanddate.com are also a great place to find upcoming meteor showers as well as when certain planets will be visible to the naked eye or through a telescope. Use these tips to enjoy the night skies and unleash endless entertainment that is always free to watch and often better than anything television has to offer.