Geminids Meteor Shower December 2014: Peak Date & Time of 'Intense' Stream Plus Best View Tips

One of the best things to look forward to during the Christmas season is the Geminid Meteor Shower, which is usually one of the most intense that can be seen the entire year.

Expected to peak on December 13 and 14, an expected 100 shooting stars are expected to fall per minute while the shower is ongoing, and the best part is that it can be seen at almost any point on earth.

According to the International Business Times, the first sightings of the phenomenon will start as early as December 4, and stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere are bound to see more than those in the Southern Hemisphere.

What is interesting about the Geminids is that they are unlike most meteor showers that can be seen on earth. Global News CA noted that although most showers happen when the Earth passes through some debris left over from a comet, the Geminids are seen when we enter the stream of debris left from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

However, this year's Geminid will have to contend with a full moon, which means that they may not be as bright as expected, although a waning gibbous moon will be up by the time the shower peaks.

So where exactly in the sky should you direct your attention to in order to see the best meteor shower this year?

Global News said that the Gemini constellation is the apparent source of the meteors, so check out that constellation, which can be seen near the Orion constellation as it rises from the east.

The Gemini is just above the left shoulder of Orion, and will somewhat be orange. The meteors will originate there, but really, you only have to look up to catch a falling star that you could wish upon this Christmas.

Now that you know where it has originated, when do you think you should check out the shower?

As a rule of thumb, later is better in stargazing, considering that the constellation where the meteors seem to originate rises higher in the sky, therefore it's darker as the night goes by. The darker it is, the brighter the meteors will shine.

Not everyone wants to stay up late, though, so for those who go to bed early, check out the Earth-grazers, which are meteors that skip off the atmosphere and are slow moving and definitely bright, and it's definitely one to catch.

Are you going to stay up late to see the Geminids?