Central Ohio forecast cloudy for meteor showers
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A spectacular meteor shower reaches its peak this week and into the weekend, but thick clouds and a bright moon may ruin stargazing plans.
Why it matters: Each year, the Geminids are one of the most reliable and prolific meteor showers for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Context: The Geminids meteor shower is active from about mid-November to mid-December, appearing to enter the sky from the constellation Gemini, which gives the shower its name.
- At its peak in ideal viewing conditions, more than 100 Geminid meteors can be observed per hour, breaking into bright and fast streaks of yellow light.
Yes, but: Unfortunately, a combination of Central Ohio cloudiness, pervasive light pollution and a nearly full moon will make this shower unlikely to be worth a long night of observation.
- Thomas Burns, the recently retired director of Ohio Wesleyan's Perkins Observatory, told us the Geminids are one of two worthwhile annual meteor showers, but that "observing in Ohio, with its cloudy December skies, is usually a waste of time."
If you go: Some will still do their best to see The Geminids. Here are Burns's tips:
🌃 Get out of the city. You'll want the darkest sky possible, and within easy driving distance, Burns suggests the John Glenn Astronomy Park in Hocking Hills.
🥱 Be patient. Burns says viewers should "be prepared to observe all night," and told us the "most meteors" are usually visible in the two hours before morning twilight.
🔠Leave the telescope. Stick with "the binoculars you were born with," largely because of your peripheral vision.
😴 Rest before heading home If you stay up all night looking for meteors, don't drive back without a little shut-eye. "The life you save might be mine," Burns says.