One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year is coming: how and when to see the Geminids

BarcelonaThe year is drawing to a close, but the astronomical calendar still has some unmissable and outstanding phenomena in store for these final days of 2025. In the coming days, we'll reach the peak of one of the most important and spectacular meteor showers of the year: the Geminids. It might even be better than the most famous meteor shower of the year, the Perseids in August. In this case, we should dress warmly, as the nights are long and cold at this time of year. Below you will find the information you need to fully enjoy this phenomenon.

When is the best time to enjoy the Geminids?

The peak of the Geminid meteor shower this year will occur on the night of December 13-14, right in the middle of the weekend. Furthermore, the moon will be in its waning phase and won't rise until well into the early hours of the morning, specifically shortly before 3:00 AM (Catalan time). Therefore, the sky will be quite dark for a good part of the night. Weather permitting, these are excellent conditions for enjoying the phenomenon.

It is estimated that during the hours when the moon is absent, and if there are no clouds, up to 150 meteors per hour can be observed. This high frequency makes this meteor shower one of the most spectacular and intense of the year.

Where can you best observe the night sky?

To best observe this phenomenon, we must travel to areas far from light pollution. It's also important to have few obstacles on the horizon, such as trees, very high mountains, or buildings. Therefore, the best option is to move away from urban areas and find high points or large, flat areas.

Keep in mind that 91 Catalan municipalities continue to prohibit access to their natural areas due to the outbreak of African swine fever. Therefore, all these areas should be avoided, and we should travel to areas where there is no risk of the spread of this animal disease.

This meteor shower is called the Geminids because it occurs when looking at the sky towards the constellation Gemini (the Twins). At night and in the early evening, look towards the northeast, where the constellation will rise above the horizon. By midnight on Saturday, it will be higher in the sky and moving east, and by early morning it will be high in the sky, looking towards the east and southeast. Binoculars, telescopes, or any other equipment will not be necessary, as the phenomenon will be visible to the naked eye.

Will the weather cooperate?

With the current weather maps, the meteor shower may be significantly diminished by cloud cover in the Tarragona region, along the entire coast and pre-coastal areas, and in the western part of the country. The heaviest cloud cover will be concentrated especially in the southern half of the country. There may also be fog or low clouds in any plain or valley in the interior.

In contrast, the Pyrenees and the Pre-Pyrenees will have the clearest skies. Therefore, this will be the best area in the country to observe this phenomenon, especially at higher elevations. Warm clothing will be necessary, although the cold will be moderate.

What is the origin of this meteor shower?

The Geminids originate from the rocky asteroid 3200 Phaetont, composed of minerals and discovered in 1983. This object orbits the Sun, leaving behind solid fragments that collide with Earth's atmosphere on specific days at the end of the year, when the asteroid is at its peak orbit. When the meteors enter our atmosphere, they burn up and disintegrate, producing a luminous trail across the sky as they fall. Unlike other meteor showers, in this case the meteors travel at a slower speed, making them brighter, more colorful, and more visible. A truly spectacular sight.