Geminids meteor shower to light up Australia’s southern hemisphere skies before Christmas – here’s when and where to see it

Stargazers are starting to prepare for the last natural light show of the year, which will appear in the Australian night sky in mid-December.

The Geminids meteor shower is known as the best of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and will be visible until December 20, when hundreds of space rocks will fly past Earth.

First discovered in 1862, the exhibition is now an annual must-see event. It is famous for the huge number of meteors flying across the night sky.

The largest number of meteors will be visible on December 14 and 15, when the shower will peak.

Experts advise viewers to stay as far away from artificial lighting as possible if they want to see it well, and to give themselves time to adjust to the darkness.

The Geminids meteor shower is considered the best of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. It will be visible until December 20th, peaking on the 14th and 15th.

Perth Observatory Representative told 7News that anyone who wants to see it will have to spend the whole night to get the full experience.

“This is one of the few meteor showers that has plenty of time to get out and watch, as they can usually be seen between 10pm and 4am,” they said.

“Dress appropriately for the weather and make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to be out for a long time. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair—meteor viewing can be a waiting game.

“Once you find a viewing spot, lie down on the ground and look up at the sky.”

The reason why people are advised to stay up late is because the moon has already set and its light is not disturbing.

Anyone looking to see the peak of the spectacle on December 14 will have to plan their nights accordingly as it will be observed at different times in different states.

In Brisbane it can be seen from around 9pm, but anyone in Perth will have to wait until 10pm to see it.

Sydney residents will notice the meteors passing around 11pm in Sydney, while further down the east coast, Melbourne residents will see them at midnight. Adelaide residents will have better viewing at the same time, which is half an hour later at 11.30pm.

Visibility can vary depending on moonlight and weather, and any cloud cover can dramatically reduce the enjoyment of the experience.

Astronomers are predicting stargazers will have some luck this year as the new moon means the skies will get darker and meteors will be even brighter.

Geminids meteor shower is one of the most reliable and active meteor showers and is caused by fragments of 3200 Phaeton, an asteroid five kilometers wide.

It gets its name from the constellation Gemini, where the meteors apparently originate, near the bright star Castor.

As the debris enters the Earth’s atmosphere, it quickly begins to burn, forming beautiful tails that are the most visible part of the show.

Some debris can be as small as a grain of sand, which is why it is often called “dust.”

The meteor shower was first observed in 1862 and is revered for its reliability in its return, as well as the sheer number of meteors per hour.