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Geminid meteor shower to peak in December. Will Seattle weather ruin the show?

By and Emilee Speck
Published  December 12, 2024 4:00am PST
Air and Space
FOX Weather

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable annual displays for stargazers, is expected to peak this week. However, spectators in the Pacific Northwest may struggle to see it.

Keep reading to learn more about the meteor light show, when peak activity is supposed to happen and if the weather in western Washington will cooperate during this year's show.

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable annual displays for stargazers, is expected to peak this week. However, spectators in the Pacific Northwest may struggle with cloud cover. According to FOX Weather, the Geminids start in mid-November and run through Christmas Eve. So, even if we miss peak activity in western Washington, there's still a chance to see some meteors. Keep reading to learn more about the Geminid meteor shower, when peak activity is supposed to happen and if the weather in western Washington will cooperate during this year's show. When is the Geminid meteor shower expected to peak? According to FOX Weather, the Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of Friday, Dec. 13 through the morning of Saturday, Dec. 14. Under the right conditions, stargazers can witness around 120 meteors per hour. Will we be able to see the Geminid meteor shower in WA? Two factors will make sky-gazing difficult during the Geminid meteor shower. According to FOX Weather, the Seattle area is expected to have 100% cloud cover during peak activity Friday night. If there are breaks in the clouds, the nearly full moon's light could also hinder visibility. However, there is a silver lining for those in the Pacific Northwest: Although peak activity occurs this week, the Geminid meteor shower will continue through Christmas. So do not give up hope, there is still a chance to see some meteors. Where do the Geminids come from? According to NASA, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the few showers linked to an asteroid instead of a comet. The asteroid, known as 3200 Phaethon, remains a mystery to astronomers, with some speculating it may be a "dead comet" or a new class of object known as a "rock comet". Scientists aim to uncover more about 3200 Phaethon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's DESTINY+ mission, set to launch in 2028. The spacecraft will fly by the asteroid to study the source of the dust that creates the Geminid shower.

The Geminid meteor shower is being seen at the top of Niubei Mountain in Ya'an, Sichuan Province, China, on December 14, 2023.  (Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

When is the Geminid meteor shower expected to peak?

According to FOX Weather, the Geminids start in mid-November and run through Christmas Eve. Even if we miss peak activity in western Washington, there's still a chance to see some meteors.

Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak from the night of Friday, Dec. 13 to the morning of Saturday, Dec. 14. Under the right conditions, stargazers could witness up to 120 meteors per hour.

Will we be able to see the Geminid meteor shower in WA?

Two factors will make sky gazing difficult during the Geminid meteor shower. According to FOX Weather, the Seattle area is expected to have 100% cloud cover during peak activity Friday night. If there are breaks in the clouds, the nearly full moon's light could also obscure visibility.

However, there is a silver lining for those in the Pacific Northwest: Although peak activity occurs this week, the Geminid meteor shower will continue through Christmas. So, don’t give up hope — there’s still time to catch a glimpse of the meteors. 

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most reliable annual displays for stargazers, is expected to peak this week. However, spectators in the Pacific Northwest may struggle with cloud cover. According to FOX Weather, the Geminids start in mid-November and run through Christmas Eve. So, even if we miss peak activity in western Washington, there's still a chance to see some meteors. Keep reading to learn more about the Geminid meteor shower, when peak activity is supposed to happen and if the weather in western Washington will cooperate during this year's show. When is the Geminid meteor shower expected to peak? According to FOX Weather, the Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of Friday, Dec. 13 through the morning of Saturday, Dec. 14. Under the right conditions, stargazers can witness around 120 meteors per hour. Will we be able to see the Geminid meteor shower in WA? Two factors will make sky-gazing difficult during the Geminid meteor shower. According to FOX Weather, the Seattle area is expected to have 100% cloud cover during peak activity Friday night. If there are breaks in the clouds, the nearly full moon's light could also hinder visibility. However, there is a silver lining for those in the Pacific Northwest: Although peak activity occurs this week, the Geminid meteor shower will continue through Christmas. So do not give up hope, there is still a chance to see some meteors. Where do the Geminids come from? According to NASA, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the few showers linked to an asteroid instead of a comet. The asteroid, known as 3200 Phaethon, remains a mystery to astronomers, with some speculating it may be a "dead comet" or a new class of object known as a "rock comet". Scientists aim to uncover more about 3200 Phaethon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's DESTINY+ mission, set to launch in 2028. The spacecraft will fly by the asteroid to study the source of the dust that creates the Geminid shower. FOX Weather's Emilee Speck contributed to this report.

The Geminids Meteor Shower forecast for the U.S. (FOX Weather)

Where do the Geminids come from?

According to NASA, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the few showers linked to an asteroid instead of a comet. The asteroid, known as 3200 Phaethon, remains a mystery to astronomers, with some speculating it may be a "dead comet" or a new class of object known as a "rock comet".

Scientists aim to uncover more about 3200 Phaethon with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's DESTINY+ mission, set to launch in 2028. The spacecraft will fly by the asteroid to study the source of the dust that creates the Geminid shower.

FOX Weather's Emilee Speck contributed to this story.

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