The Geminids meteor shower is particularly unique because of its origin
Stargazers are in for a treat this weekend as one of the last meteor showers of 2025 is expected to peak in UK skies. The annual ‘Geminids’ event sends debris hurtling rapidly into Earth’s atmosphere, before it vaporises into vibrant streaks of light.
While the meteor shower has been active since December 4, it is expected to reach its optimum over the coming days, according to Dr Shyam Balaji, a research fellow at King’s College London. Numerous people in the UK may therefore get a chance to spot its ‘vivid colours’, provided that location and weather conditions allow for it.
“The Geminids are known for their vivid colours,” Dr Balaji said. “These are due to the presence of various metals in the meteoroids, such as sodium and calcium. These elements burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright and colourful streaks.
“The best time to view the Geminid meteor shower is around 2 am local time when the radiant point is highest in the sky. However, you can start watching from mid-evening onwards. Look towards the constellation Gemini, which is where the meteors appear to originate. The radiant point is near the bright star Castor in Gemini.”
The Geminids meteor shower is particularly unique because of its origin. While most other meteor showers stem from comets, the Geminids are instead composed of debris from a famous asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
Remarkably, experts at the Royal Museums Greenwich also clarify that the bursts of light observed are frequently caused by particles no larger than grains of sand. The meteor shower is believed to be intensifying year on year.
“The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue,” the Royal Museums Greenwich adds. “These colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium, the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful.
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“The shower has been known to produce over 120 meteors per hour at its peak, although light pollution and other factors mean that in reality the actual number visible is far less.”
The Geminids shower is expected to peak between December 13 and 14. If you’re eager to spot it, finding a safe location away from street lights and other sources of light pollution is essential.
This year, it is believed that people in several parts of Scotland, southeast England, and East Anglia are most likely to see it. A blog from the UK Space Agency further advises: “You won’t see a ‘rain’ of myriad meteors as is sometimes claimed, but with a little patience you should catch a handful of really nice ones over the course of half an hour or so, even from suburban sites.
“The great thing about 2025’s Geminid shower is that the expected peak of its activity around Saturday night coincides with a time when the Moon sits below the horizon for most of the evening, so its light won’t wash out the sky and hide fainter meteors.
“To stand the best chance of seeing the Geminids, find a safe place to observe, wrap up warm and allow your eyes to adapt properly to the darkness around you.
“You don’t need any equipment to enjoy the show, but a sun lounger or reclining camping chair can make staring up at the sky much more comfortable, even if your neighbours end up thinking you’re slightly odd.”
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