Many want to see shooting stars this Thursday. As known, it's not only in summer that one can enjoy countless falling stars in the night sky. Apart from meteor showers occurring from mid-July to mid-August, December also offers a mesmerizing spectacle.
In the lead-up to Christmas, the Earth passes through a stream of the so-called Geminids on its orbit around the Sun. This week, the showers of falling stars are expected to reach their peak. According to the Sternfreunde Association, the maximum should occur on Thursday, December 14th.
In these places, you can get a good view of falling stars.
The peak of the meteor shower is expected around 8:00 PM.
Overall, the frequency increases throughout the night, and even in the early morning hours, you may see streaking sparks. If the sky is clear and dark, there is a chance to witness around 50 meteor flashes per hour.
The Geminid meteor shower can be easily observed in places where light pollution is minimal. It is best to do this outside of cities. Star parks, such as Westhavelland near Berlin or a dedicated site in the Eifel National Park, are considered ideal places for observation.
Mountainous heights are also particularly suitable, for example:
- The summit of Feldberg in the Black Forest;
- The astronomical observation platform Hohe Geba in Thuringia.
In these places, you will be able to enjoy an impressive spectacle this Thursday.
If there's no time and you have to skip the Geminids, or if bad weather worsens visibility, there's no need to despair. The next opportunity to see sparkling shooting stars will be at Christmas with the Ursids.
It is expected that a less intense meteor shower will peak this year on December 23rd around 5 a.m. Observing it is possible in the same places that provide an excellent view.
In general, it's worth observing falling stars for everyone. Such a colorful spectacle can be seen quite rarely, so don't miss your chance. Moreover, they say that if you make a wish while a star is falling, it will definitely come true.
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This Thursday, the maximum of the Geminid meteor shower is anticipated at 8:00 PM, making the summit of Feldberg in the Black Forest or the Hohe Geba observatory in Thuringia excellent locations for witnessing around 50 meteor flashes per hour. If you miss this opportunity or weather conditions disrupt visibility, don't lose hope, as the next chance to see shooting stars will be during Christmas with the Ursids, with a less intense meteor shower expected on December 23rd around 5:00 AM.
