How to Watch the 2026 Geminid Meteor Shower (Peak Dec. 13–14)
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How we wrote this: Dates and rates are from NASA's Geminids page, which cites the American Meteor Society and NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Moon phase and moonset times are from the U.S. Naval Observatory's data service. Meteor counts are averages, and weather is the wild card.
The Geminids are, in NASA's words, "one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers". In 2026 the Moon is mostly out of the way at the peak, so it's a good year to try.
The 2026 numbers
From NASA's Geminids page:
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Active | Dec. 4 to Dec. 17 |
| Peak | Night of Dec. 13–14 |
| Expected rate under dark skies | 40 to 50 meteors per hour |
| Best-case rate | Up to 120 per hour under perfect conditions |
| Speed | 22 miles (35 km) per second |
| Source | Asteroid 3200 Phaethon |
NASA says the shower has a nearly 24-hour broad maximum, so it's visible around the globe. Geminids are bright, fast and tend to be yellow.
Why 2026's Moon helps
The U.S. Naval Observatory's moon phase data puts New Moon on Dec. 9 and First Quarter on Dec. 17, 2026. On the peak night, the Moon is a waxing crescent, a little under a fifth lit (USNO lists 18% for that date). In USNO's figures for New York City on Dec. 13, it sets at about 8:43 p.m. local time (about 9:00 p.m. in Los Angeles). After moonset, the rest of the night is moonless, which is ideal for faint meteors.
When and where to look
NASA's tips:
- Timing: best during the night and predawn hours. The shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m., which is why NASA calls it "one of the best opportunities for young viewers".
- Darkness: get well away from city and street lights.
- Position: lie flat on your back with your feet facing south, and take in as much sky as possible.
- Patience: after about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes adapt and you'll start seeing meteors. The show lasts until dawn.
- Don't stare at Gemini. The radiant is in the constellation Gemini, but NASA notes the meteors appear all over the sky.
Dress for December
NASA's advice is to come prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair. For kids, plan a shorter session right after moonset with warm drinks, rather than a pre-dawn alarm.
Make it a science night
- Count meteors in 15-minute blocks and compare before and after midnight.
- Talk about the source. Most showers come from comets, but the Geminids come from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon. NASA says Phaethon may be a "dead comet" or a "rock comet", and that scientists aren't certain how to classify it.
- Look for color. NASA describes Geminids as tending toward yellow.
NASA's tips are all naked-eye; meteors appear anywhere in the sky, so no telescope is needed. If you want to keep stargazing afterward, see our guides to stargazing with binoculars and choosing a beginner telescope. Check your local forecast for clouds the day before. Our home weather station guide covers tracking conditions at home.