Tonight is the last chance to see the Geminid meteor shower in the UK.
One of the last of the year’s major showers, the Geminid meteor shower has been active since December 4, peaking on December 14.
The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are described as "very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured".
Here is how best to spot the spectacle in UK skies this evening.
Witnessed the Geminid meteor shower and I’m STILL SHAKING!
A bright meteor streaked across the sky for a full 5 seconds ( FIVE! ) JUST LOOKING LIKE A WOW. pic.twitter.com/2pFmNqXuFL— Sujal Singh (@sujalsingh_x) December 14, 2025
What is the Geminid meteor shower?
As explained by the Royal Museums Greenwich (RMG), the Geminid meteors "appear to radiate from near the bright star Castor in the constellation of Gemini".
It adds: "What sets the Geminids apart from other meteor showers is their origin: while most meteor showers originate from comets, Geminids are leftover bits and pieces of the asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
"Unlike comets, asteroids don’t develop tails when approaching the Sun, and their composition is different."
The Geminid meteor shower involves white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue meteors, which are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium.
The shower can produce about 120 meteors per hour at its peak, but this can depend on factors such as light pollution.
How to see the Geminid meteor shower in the UK tonight
The Geminid meteor shower is described by the RMG as "one of the most active showers of the year", being the one major shower that shows good activity before midnight.
The RMG says that if you are planning to try spotting the meteor shower, you should prepare for a "waiting game".
However, the shower can be seen with the naked eye, but you must allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.
It adds: "It is best not to look directly at the radiant as this can limit the number of meteors you see.
"Try instead to look just to the side in a dark area of sky and you will be more likely to catch sight of some meteors."
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To best view the meteor shower, find a spot away from light pollution, such as street lights.
The meteors can be seen in all parts of the sky, but can be best seen from a wide open space where you can scan across the night sky.
The shower appears to originate from the Gemini constellation, so night sky apps may help with which direction to look.
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