Every year, in late December, our planet bursts into a region of space filled with dust and rocky fragments, generating one of the most beautiful celestial phenomena that can be witnessed from Earth: a meteor shower that illuminates the night sky in our world. For observers in Florida, this event represents an extraordinary opportunity. It only requires curiosity, patience, and a clear night under the stars.
What are the Geminids?
They are one of the most active and reliable meteor showers on the annual astronomical calendar. Unlike most meteor showers, which originate from comets, the Geminids come from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, a rocky object that orbits the Sun every 1.4 years.
In its annual journey, Earth passes through the fragments of this asteroid—which can range from grains of sand to rocky debris. These fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed, producing the luminous flashes we know as shooting stars.
Where will the Geminids be visible?
The radiant of the Geminids, that is, the point in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate, is located in the constellation Gemini, near the star Castor. However, this meteor shower is visible from virtually any direction in the sky, making it one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year, alongside the Perseids.
In which direction will the Geminids be visible in Florida?
Enthusiasts of this type of astronomical event who are in Florida should look toward the northwest, where the constellation Gemini is located.
What time will the Geminids be visible in Florida?
The period of peak activity for the Geminid meteor shower in 2025 will be between the night of December 13 and the early morning of December 14.
Astronomical forecasts indicate that the meteor peak will occur at 04:25 UTC on December 14. This means that the maximum visibility peak in Florida will occur at 11:25 pm on December 13 and the early hours of the following day.
In fact, amateur astronomers can begin meteor hunting from dusk on the 13th, around 10:00 pm.
