The Geminid meteor shower will be visible across most of the country and even Tasmania in the early hours of Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December.
This year’s meteor shower is predicted to be the best in a very long time, with no moon to obstruct the view.
The prime time to witness the shower in Hobart will be in the early hours of Friday morning, where up to 30 meteors per hour are expected to be visible around 2:38am.
While the viewing experience will depend on the weather conditions, this year’s shower is predicted to produce more meteors than usual.
Experts say the Geminid meteors will be bright and not super-fast, making them easier to see – and there may be occasional fireballs.
Tips for observing the meteor shower include scanning the sky to locate the meteors, finding a location away from city lights and being patient, as meteors do not appear at regular intervals.
| Location | Dec 14 | Dec 15 (best) | Dec 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | 13 meteors/hr | 35 meteors/hr | 8 meteors/hr |
| Brisbane | 16 meteors/hr | 45 meteors/hr | 11 meteors/hr |
| Canberra | 13 meteors/hr | 35 meteors/hr | 8 meteors/hr |
| Darwin | 14 meteors/hr | 63 meteors/hr | 14 meteors/hr |
| Hobart | 10 meteors/hr | 30 meteors/hr | 6 meteors/hr |
| Melbourne | 11 meteors/hr | 31 meteors/hr | 7 meteors/hr |
| Perth | 16 meteors/hr | 35 meteors/hr | 8 meteors/hr |
| Sydney | 13 meteors/hr | 37 meteors/hr | 8 meteors/hr |
