# When is the Geminid meteor shower?

*NASA says to expect 40 to 50 meteors per hour under dark skies, and the shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Science
- By: Science Desk
- Published: 2026-11-11T22:53:26-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T22:53:26-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/science/when-is-the-geminid-meteor-shower/

## Key facts

- The Geminid meteor shower is active from December 4 to December 17, 2026, and peaks on December 13 to 14, according to NASA. Source: [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:52:23-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/when-is-the-geminid-meteor-shower/#the-geminid-meteor-shower-is-active-from-december-4-to
- NASA says to expect 40 to 50 Geminid meteors per hour under dark skies, and that 120 per hour can be seen at the peak under perfect conditions. Source: [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:52:23-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/when-is-the-geminid-meteor-shower/#nasa-says-to-expect-40-to-50-geminid-meteors-per-hour-under
- The Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours, and NASA says the shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m. Source: [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:52:23-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/when-is-the-geminid-meteor-shower/#the-geminids-are-best-viewed-during-the-night-and-predawn
- The Geminids come from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, and Geminid meteors travel at 22 miles (35 kilometers) per second. Source: [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). Confirmed 2026-11-11T22:52:23-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/science/when-is-the-geminid-meteor-shower/#the-geminids-come-from-the-asteroid-3200-phaethon-and

The Geminid meteor shower is active from December 4 to December 17, 2026, and peaks on December 13 to 14, according to [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). The [American Meteor Society](https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/), which NASA lists as a source for its dates, gives the same active period and lists December 13 to 14 as the peak night.

## Geminid dates for 2026

| Stage | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Shower becomes active | December 4, 2026 |
| Peak | December 13 to 14, 2026 |
| Shower ends | December 17, 2026 |

The dates come from the fast facts on [NASA's Geminids page](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/). NASA says the Geminids peak during mid-December each year.

## How many meteors to expect

[NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/) says to expect 40 to 50 meteors per hour under dark skies. The same page says that during the peak, 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour under perfect conditions. NASA describes Geminid meteors as bright and fast, tending to be yellow in color, with a velocity of 22 miles (35 kilometers) per second.

## Best time and way to watch

The Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours, and they are visible across the globe, [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/) says. The shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m., which is why NASA says it is considered one of the best opportunities for young viewers, and it lasts until dawn.

NASA's viewing advice on that page:

- Find an area well away from city lights and street lights.
- Dress for winter temperatures and bring a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair.
- Lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.
- Allow about 30 minutes in the dark for your eyes to adapt.

The meteors appear to come from the constellation Gemini, which gives the shower its name, but NASA says viewers should not look only toward Gemini because Geminids are visible throughout the night sky.

## Where the Geminids come from

Most meteor showers originate from comets. The Geminids originate from an asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, [NASA](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/) says. Phaethon takes 1.4 years to orbit the Sun once and measures 3.17 miles (5.10 kilometers) across. It was discovered on October 11, 1983, by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, and NASA credits the astronomer Fred Whipple with realizing that it is the source of the Geminid meteors.

NASA says scientists are not certain how to define Phaethon. The agency says it may be a "dead comet" or a new kind of object that astronomers call a "rock comet."

According to NASA, the Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s, when only 10 to 20 meteors were seen per hour, and have since grown into one of the major meteor showers of the year.

This page will be updated at this address when the dates for the next Geminid shower are posted.

## Sources

1. [Geminids Meteor Shower](https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/), NASA, 2026-08-13 (primary source)
2. [Meteor Shower Calendar](https://www.amsmeteors.org/calendar/), American Meteor Society, 2026-11-11