Geminid meteor shower and cold lunar peak on Saturday, Sunday. When and how to watch in Florida

The “best and most reliable” meteor shower is doing its bit to light up the sky as the last full moon of the year shines brightly.

This busy weekend marks the peak of December’s cold full moon and the Geminid meteor shower. The Geminid shower peaked overnight on Friday and Saturday but will remain active until December 24th. However, the cold moonlight, which peaks at 4:02 a.m. Sunday morning, may reduce the visibility of the meteor shower.

If you’re planning on marveling at these cosmic events in Florida this weekend, here’s everything you need to know.

What is the Geminid meteor shower?

NASA calls the Geminid meteor shower one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year because it occurs between November 19th and December 24th every year and peaks on December 14th. According to NASA, that wasn’t always the case.

When meteors first appeared in the mid-19th century, only about 10 to 20 meteors could be seen per event. Now you can see up to 120 per hour in absolutely perfect conditions.

The Geminids are fairly unique in that they come from a single asteroid rather than comets, which is typical. All Geminids descend from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, which orbits the Sun for 1.4 years.

There is some debate over how to actually classify the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which some scientists suggest is a “dead comet” or a new type of object called a “rocky comet.”

Unlike other comets, 3200 Phaethon does not produce a “comet tail” as it passes the sun, and its spectra resemble a rocky asteroid, according to NASA.

The Geminids are also many times denser than the dust flakes that typically come from comets.

The asteroid 3200 Phaethon was discovered on October 11, 1983 and was named after the figure from Greek mythology who drove the chariot of the sun god Helios.

What is a cold full moon? How often does it happen?

The cold moon refers to the last full moon of the year. The name derives from the Native American tradition of using the moons each month to track the seasons. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Mohawk Tribe named the full moon in December after the icy conditions of cold weather at that time of year.

The cold full moon will peak at 4:02 a.m. EST on Sunday morning. However, the moon will appear full throughout the weekend and into Monday morning.

Cool fact about this year’s cold moon: At its northernmost points it will rise and set, which happens only once in an 18.6-year cycle.

Can the Geminid meteor shower be seen from Florida?

Luckily, the Geminids can be seen all over the world, even down here in Florida. The best times to see them are during the night and dawn hours, when it is darkest outside. The shower usually starts around 9 or 10 p.m

Where and when to watch the Geminid meteor shower

Look south. Remember that it takes about 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Meteors radiate from the constellation Gemini but can appear anywhere in the sky.

You can pay attention to them at any time. The Geminids last from November 19 to December 24, with peak activity occurring between December 4 and 17, and activity begins as early as 9 or 10 p.m., according to NASA. However, the best time to watch the show is overnight and early in the morning.

The peak will be December 13th and 14th, when Earth encounters the asteroid’s densest debris cloud and viewers in dark, rural areas will be able to see it at a rate of 120-150 meteors or more per hour.

Tips for watching the Geminids while showering

Viewing tips from the official NASA website:

• The Geminids are best seen after 9 p.m. and before sunrise. The best rates are at 2am

• Keep in mind that meteors often come in bursts.

• Special equipment? None necessary! Maybe bring a blanket to stay warm.

• The cold full moon is bright, so for this year’s Geminids it is recommended to find the darkest place and look away from the moon as this will “lighten the sky and significantly reduce the number of visible meteors.”

What are the weather conditions in Florida for stargazing tonight?

• Near West Palm Beach: Stargazing conditions in South Florida on Saturday are arm with 78% of average cloud cover, according to AccuWeather. Conditions improve slightly on Sunday, with coverage at 39%.

• Near Fort Pierce: The prerequisite for stargazing along Florida’s Treasure Coast on Saturday is arm with 77% of average cloud cover, according to AccuWeather. Conditions improve slightly on Sunday, with coverage at 28%.

• Near Sarasota: The prerequisite for stargazing along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Saturday is Good with 35% of average cloud cover, according to AccuWeather. Conditions on Sunday improve significantly when you consider Great with 11% coverage.

• Near Orlando: The requirement for stargazing in Central Florida on Saturday is arm with 65% of average cloud cover, according to AccuWeather. Conditions on Sunday improve significantly, considering Good with 27% coverage.

• Near Jacksonville: Stargazing conditions in North Florida on Saturday are arm with 57% of average cloud cover, according to AccuWeather. Considering that the conditions improve significantly on Sunday Good with 27% coverage.

This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Post: Geminid meteor shower tonight: How to watch Saturday’s cold full moon