MACON, Ga. — A meteor shower gracing the skies has been getting a lot of attention, but for us in Central Georgia, will we be able to get in on the action?
Here's a look at what you need to know.
What is the Geminid meteor shower?
One of the most fascinating astronomical events of the year is expected to peak tonight: the Geminid meteor shower. The phenomenon typically happens at the end of every year as the Earth passes through the meteor stream that comes from dormant, or decaying, asteroid — the 3200 Phaethon.
At this event's peak and when viewing under a dark sky with no moon, nearly 120 meteors per hour can be seen streaking across the night sky.
Will this event be viewable in Central Georgia tonight?
The forecast for tonight will see scattered cloud cover throughout the nighttime hours here in central Georgia, which doesn't make for prime viewing conditions.
The next full moon also takes place in two days on Dec. 15, so the nearly full moon tonight will illuminate the night to limit visibility even more.
However, the good news is that this event will still be viewable all the way until Christmas Eve, so just because the weather conditions aren't the most conducive for viewing tonight, you still have over a week left to try to find a clear night to look up into the sky!
How to view this in Central Georgia?
The best times to view the Geminid meteor shower are the hours before and after midnight, when the sky is darkest.
You'll want to try to be as far away from lights as possible, along with somewhere where you have a good view of the entire sky where there aren't many trees to block your view.
Don't just stay outside for 10 minutes if you really want to catch a glimpse either. The longer you stay outside, the more adjusted your eyes will be to the dark, which makes viewing easier.