Don't miss out on this meteor shower Wednesday night

On Wednesday night, you will be able to see the Geminid meteor shower.

The Geminid meteor shower is the biggest meteor shower of 2023 and will begin on December 13 around 9 or 10 p.m., the absolute peak of the shower will occur early December 14 at around 2 a.m.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), during peak activity and perfect weather conditions, which are rare, the Geminids produce approximately 100-150 meteors per hour for viewing.

The Canadian Space Agency has quite a few tips for both seasoned and amateur astronomers. If you're planning on meteor hunting you should:

• Always make sure to check the weather forecast. 
• Head away from city lights, which make it hard to see fainter meteors. To increase your chances of seeing shooting stars, set out in search of dark skies in the countryside.
• If you need to use a flashlight, place a red filter over the bulb (a red balloon will do in a bind). White light is very blinding and may affect your night vision.
• Dress warmly. 
• Sit back and relax on a reclining chair or lie down on a blanket. Not only is it much more comfortable to observe the stars lying down, but you'll also see more that way.
• Pack a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee—it will come in handy if you start to drift off or get a little chilly!
• Be patient. It might take a while before you see your first shooting star. Don't be quick to give up... It's worth the wait!

Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environments Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, suggests sitting in the shade of a house or tree while also maintaining a view of the open sky to alleviate moonlight interference.

The Gemenids are one of three meteor showers that occur during the year. Other spectacular meteor showers to watch out for throughout the year include:

• the Quadrantids, in early January
• the Perseids, in mid-August

Geminids travel 78,000 miles per hour, over 40 times faster than a speeding bullet, but it is highly unlikely that meteors will reach the ground – most Geminids burn up at altitudes between 45 to 55 miles, stated NASA

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada as of right now, Wednesday night is forecasted to be cloudy with snow developing overnight.

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