Geminid meteor shower: How and where to catch a glimpse of the ‘intense’ meteor storm over Britain

Hundreds of shooting stars are lighting up the night sky again across parts of England in one of the last major meteor showers of the year.

The Geminid meteor shower was visible in the early hours of Saturday, with white streaks visible from Northumberland to Somerset.

Stunning photos from keen stargazers revealed the beautiful celestial scene that will return to British skies on Saturday night – and will continue to be active until December 20th.

The shower – one of the most active of the year – is currently at its peak and stargazers are taking the opportunity to see potentially dozens of shooting stars in just a few hours.

Open image in gallery

Photographer Lee Reid drove an hour from his home in Newcastle to Lindisfarne in Northumberland, where he was able to watch the shower through a clear patch of sky.

“I could actually see the meteors as I drove forward and was obviously pretty excited,” Mr Reid said. “Lindisfarne seems to be my lucky spot…there were clouds behind me but much of the sky, around 5.30am in the north-east, was clear.

“It’s amazing because if you plan things for a few days and hope and pray for clear skies, then it’s good when a plan comes together.”

Because of the shower’s intensity, the Geminids are known as “meteor showers” and are one of the “most spectacular meteor showers of the year,” said Dr. Minjae Kim, physics scientist at the University of Warwick.

Open image in gallery

Aside from the Quadrantids, only the Geminid meteor showers do not come from a comet. The shooting stars seen lighting up the night sky could be caused by asteroid particles as small as a grain of sand, the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG) said.

What is the best way to observe the Geminids?

According to RMG, the Geminid meteor shower is known to produce a peak of more than 150 meteors per hour. In reality, the number you can see is significantly lower.

Unfortunately, this year’s shower, which peaks on December 14th and 15th, is a full moon, meaning viewing conditions are not favorable.

But it’s still your best chance of seeing a meteor shower all year. The museum recommends bringing a comfortable chair and wrapping up warm, as meteor watching is ultimately a “waiting game.”

Binoculars and telescopes are not necessary as the meteors are visible to the naked eye. But don’t expect to see them as soon as you step outside – you’ll have to wait for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Don’t look at the moon or the stars. Instead, observe the darkest areas of the sky to have the best chance of spotting a meteor.

Avoiding all light pollution around you – including streetlights, streets and your home – will give you the best chance of spotting a meteor. Although meteors are visible in the night sky, they often appear to originate from the constellation Gemini, RMG added.

Find a wide, open spot to get the most sky view possible, settle in, and wait for the nighttime spectacle to begin.