Stargazers are in for a treat this December as one of the brightest annual displays is expected to light up the sky. And it is certainly worth braving the cold for.
The Geminid meteor shower can be seen between the 4th and the 20th of December, peaking on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th when around 150 meteors will be expected to be visible per hour. Thanks to the brightness of the individual meteors, it's considered to be one of the best to observe.
"In December every year, the Earth crosses the orbital path of the Apollo asteroid 3200 Phaethon. As the asteroid’s orbit takes it closer to the Sun, the heat damages it producing debris that travels at around 80000 miles per hour until it reaches the Earth’s atmosphere," Anna Ross, Astronomer from the Royal Observatory Greenwich previously told Country Living.
"These pieces of debris burn up as they pass through the upper layers of the atmosphere (so around 100 km above the Earth's surface) appearing to us as the Geminids meteor shower."
The celestial event is said to be nearly 200 years old and according to Space.com, it's getting stronger each year thanks to Jupiter's gravity pulling the stream of particles from the shower's source – the asteroid 3200 Phaethon – closer to Earth.
Where is the best place to see the Geminid meteor shower?
As you might expect when it comes to catching lunar events, it's best to watch from somewhere with darker skies. So, this means avoiding light-polluted areas.
What to Read Next
"Give your eyes around 20 minutes to become dark adapted and keep comfortable throughout the cold night by taking a blanket and hot drink with you. All you need to do then is look up and enjoy the spectacle above you," Dhara Patel, Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told us.
The Royal Museums Greenwich also explains that the Geminid meteor shower "is the one major shower that shows good activity before midnight." So, you won't need to be up too late to catch a glimpse of it. You don't need binoculars or a telescope either, as "they can be seen with the naked eye," once your eyes have adjusted to the dark.
And for the best chance of catching sight of some meteors, try "to look just to the side in a dark area of sky," instead of looking "directly at the radiant as this can limit the number of meteors you see."
While you may be able to view the meteors across the UK, if the weather permits, Ireland looks like the likeliest place to witness the light display this year.
It's not the only sky show to enjoy in December: a spectacular supermoon, known as the Cold Moon, will light up the sky on Wednesday 27th December 2023.
10 of the best rated travel experiences in the world
A Cooking Class and Market Tour in Florence
The best rated experience in the world is found in the beautiful Italian city of Florence, according to the Travellers Choice Awards.
The guided tour kicks off with picking fresh ingredients from a local market in Florence before heading back to a rustic Tuscan townhouse where you will use those ingredients to whip up a four-course Italian meal.
Berlin Bike Tour
Exploring the historic German capital city by bicycle ranks second for travel experiences.
This particular tour takes four and a half hours and covers all the sites including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie and Bradenburg Gate.
New York In One Day Tour
Though it might seem like quite a big feat to see the Big Apple in one day, this tour ranks very highly among TripAdvisor travellers.
Via bus, the tour guide shows visitors Times Square, the Empire State building, the 9/11 memorial, Wall Street, Central Park and more before the tour moves on to a boat which sails down the Hudson passing Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Sydney Bridge Climb
If you've ever visited the famous Australian city, you can often see what looks like minuscule people climbing the harbour bridge. Well, that is exactly what they're doing.
The Sydney Bridge Climb can take between one and a half to three and a half hours and offers unrivalled views across the city.
Vatican VIP Experience
The breathtaking home of the catholic church is unsurprisingly very popular with visitors therefore long queues often line St Peter's Square.
One way to combat this is to pre-book a tour and, according to the Choice awards, one that is particularly popular is the VIP experience which includes breakfast at the Vatican and early access to both the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel.
New Orleans Cooking Class
There's so much to see and do in the vibrant Louisiana city but one of the most popular options is to take a cooking class.
This class takes place in a converted warehouse and is led by a chef who demonstrates the fundamentals of classic Creole dishes. The demonstration also comes with plenty of information about the rich history of food in the city and there are plenty of samples after each demo.
Rotorua Maori Hangi Dinner in New Zealand
This tour takes you to the Maori village of Tamaki located in Rotorua on the North Island of New Zealand. The three and a half hour tour includes a haka song and dance by a Rangiatea cultural group and a traditional hangi feast.
Best of Niagara Falls Tour from Ontario
As well as a stop at Skylon Tower where you can see the Falls from a sky view, this tour includes boarding a cruise boat to get close to the Falls and truly see them in all their glory. The cruise also takes you along the Niagara River to see the Whirlpool Rapids and is operated by a tour guide. More info here.
Vancouver to Victoria and Butchart Gardens
This full-day tour takes you from the beautiful British Columbia city of Vancouver to Victoria, Canada by both ferry and bus. The trip gives you free time to explore Victoria before heading to Butchart Gardens which features 55 acres of beautiful floral gardens.
Wild Wicklow Tour from Dublin
Closer to home is this 'Wild Wicklow' tour which sets off from Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The bus takes visitors through picturesque countryside and seaside towns before stopping at the Wicklow Mountains National Park. In the latter part of the day, a stop is made at the glacial valley of Glendalough where there is a full tour of the ancient site including the Round Tower.
Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
Ellis Cochrane is a Freelance Contributor for House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, covering everything from expert tips and tricks, to gardening advice, product roundups and the newest properties to hit the market. Ellis has been writing about homes, interiors and gardens for four years now, and her work has also been published on Ideal Home, Prima and Elle Japan. Over the years, Ellis has also written at a number of publications such as Cosmopolitan, Tyla, Daily Express, Expert Reviews UK, Stylist and IndyBest, covering beauty and style, TV and films, books and celebrity news. Ellis studied at the University of Strathclyde, where she completed a Joint BA Hons Degree in English and Politics. Follow Ellis on Instagram at @ellistuesday.
