On Dec. 13 and 14, 2011, the Geminids meteor shower will peak. Normally one of the best showers of the year, the Geminids will be partly washed out this year by the light of the moon, which will be in its waning gibbous phase.
Even though the moon might not make for the darkest skies, the Geminids are visible earlier in the evening than other meteor showers. Go out at 9 or 10 p.m. when the moon is just rising. The meteors emanate from the constellation of Gemini, near the star Castor.
The Geminids meteor shower can produce up to 60 meteors per hour, but fewer will be visible this year with the moon shining brightly.
