Geminids meteor shower set to soar over Manitoba skies this weekend

Manitobans can gaze their eyes to the sky this weekend to watch “the best meteor shower” of the year.

The Geminids meteor shower started earlier this month. But on Friday night, the shower will reach its peak, producing between 120 and 160 meteors per hour.

“The catch is it happens at this time of the year, in December, when it can be pretty cold,” said Scott Young, a planetarium astronomer at the Manitoba Museum. “So a lot of people don't usually hear about it, or don't go out to see it, but it really is worth getting out under clear skies if you get a chance.”

Young said the Geminids shower is a bit unusual, since the meteors don’t come from a comet. Rather, they’re created by an asteroid designated as 3200 Phaethon, which orbits closer to the sun. It makes the shower appear as though it is radiating from the constellation Gemini.

“That basically means that the pieces that are hitting us are a little bit more substantial, a little bit more solid, and so they tend to burn brighter,” said Young.

Manitobans who want to catch a glimpse of the shower won’t have to go far, though they may have some obstacles in their path.

“In terms of location, the whole province has a great view,” he said. “I mean, the moon will be fairly bright, and that will wash out some of the meteors. But you don’t want to add to that with street lights and house lights and things like that.”

Young also said the view is weather-dependent.

The shower is expected to peak around midnight, and will be visible Friday and Saturday night.

“By Sunday night, things will start to taper off, and then into the week, we’ll really only see a few meteors at that point,” said Young.

Those who will be watching the Geminids are encouraged to bundle up and find a safe spot to take in the show.