Get a good view of the Geminid meteor shower

It’s billed as one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year and it comes into view for Kamloops and Okanagan residents starting tonight.

This year’s Geminid meteor shower can be seen in our night skies from Dec. 4 to Dec. 17 this year, with the annual event expected to peak on the night of Dec. 13-14.

According to EarthSky.org, the Geminids are considered “a very reliable shower” for viewing bold, bright and quick meteors.

The best viewing time is a 2 a.m. – insomniacs take note – but you’ll see the odd meteor from 9 p.m. on each night as the meteor shower builds to its peak next weekend.

This month’s new moon falls on Dec. 14, which coincides with a relatively moonless night for the Geminids’ peak this year. On a dark night near the peak, be prepared for up to 50 meteors an hour this year.

Solarsystem.nasa.gov says the Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours, with meteors starting between 9 and 10 p.m. The meteors can be seen all over the night sky.

Some viewing tips include:

  • find an area well away from city or street lights
  • come prepared to view under winter temperatures with a sleeping bag or lawn chair
  • arrive early enough to adapt to the darkness, which takes about 30 minutes
  • be patient as meteor showers tend to come in spurts, with lulls in between

Some of the best early viewing of the Geminids will likely be this weekend, with Environment Canada calling for cloud periods Friday through Sunday night for Kamloops and the Okanagan. Skies are expected to cloud over on Monday.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories

More Articles