The biggest meteor shower of the year is expected to reach its peak on Saturday night, sending hundreds of bright streaks of light across the dark Bay Area sky.
The Geminids, named for the Gemini constellation they appear to radiate from, are actually the product of 3200 Phaethon — an old, dead comet that orbits the sun every 17 months and has been around for millions of years.
Meteors are forecast to start to become visible around 9 p.m., but the shower will strengthen as the night goes on, Gerald McKeegan, a staff astronomer for Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, told SFGATE in an email. The best time to view the dazzling phenomenon is between 11 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 a.m. Sunday…