From ras.org.uk:
From 13 to 15 December, skywatchers across the world will be looking up as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, in potentially one of the best night sky events of the year.
At its peak and in a clear, dark sky, tens of 'shooting stars' or meteors may be visible each hour (the theoretical maximum under ideal conditions is about 120 an hour). Meteors are the result of small (mm- to cm-sized) particles entering the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, burning up and superheating the air around them, which then shines as a characteristic short-lived streak of light. In this case the debris is associated with the asteroidal object 3200 Phaethon, which many astronomers believe to be an extinct comet.
The meteors appear to originate from a 'radiant' point in the constellation of Gemini, hence the name Geminid. By 0200 GMT the radiant will be almost overhead as seen from the UK, making it ideally placed for observers. As a bonus, the Moon will not be present in the sky for most of the night during the period of maximum activity, so the prospects for a good view of the shower are excellent. And unlike many astronomical phenomena, meteors are best seen without a telescope and are perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye.
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Friday December 11 2015, @06:39PM
I hope this is a good show, but it would be hard to beat the Perseids from this year. Best meteor shower I have ever seen. But it does help that it is right around new moon for extra dark skies.
Hopefully at some point this weekend it will clear up here.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday December 11 2015, @07:52PM
Maybe the Meteor Shower can help me find Gemini. I've always found it hard to find Gemini by the connect the dots method.
Luckily there's an app for that. [google.com] Quite a few of them actually.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by karmawhore on Friday December 11 2015, @09:00PM
Orion begins to rise in the southeast in late evening (for me). Very recognizable. Just to the south of that, you'll see Aldebaran in Taurus (very bright star), and the V of the bull's horns is mostly brightish stars and easy to make out. If you follow from the bottom of the V back through Aldebaran and up past Orion's club, you're just about in Gemini. I hope that is somewhat helpful.
=kw= lurkin' to please
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @07:54PM
Well at least I know which days *will* be cloudy.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anne Nonymous on Friday December 11 2015, @08:22PM
> will be almost overhead as seen from the UK, making it ideally placed for observers
The UK is a great place for observing showers alright.