GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – The Geminid meteor shower is making its grand finale of 2025 this weekend, and conditions are nearly perfect for viewing.
The peak happens Saturday, December 13, into Sunday morning, December 14. If you step outside Saturday night, you could see up to 150 meteors per hour under ideal dark skies — that’s roughly one every 30 seconds.
When to look
You don’t have to stay up all night. Unlike most meteor showers, the Geminids are excellent before midnight.
- Best viewing: Saturday evening into early Sunday morning
- Radiant point: Look toward the eastern sky where you’ll see the constellation Gemini
- 9 p.m. Saturday: Expect about 60 meteors per hour
- Midnight to 2 a.m. Sunday: Peak activity with 120-150 meteors per hour
- After 2 a.m.: Activity remains strong but begins to gradually decline
The moon won’t interfere — it won’t rise until after 2 a.m. Sunday, so you’ll have dark skies for most of the night.
What to expect
Geminid meteors are slower and more graceful than other meteor showers, moving at 22 miles per second. About one in ten will be exceptionally bright, and some may even cast shadows.
Most will appear white, though about 25% show yellow hues, with some displaying red, orange, blue, or even green colors.
How to prepare
Bundle up. You’ll be outside during the coldest part of the night, and the clear skies needed for viewing make it feel even colder. Dress warmer than you think necessary…