Skies clear during Geminid meteor shower

Local stargazers can witness the annual Geminid meteor shower this month when clear skies are expected to prevail over the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Dr. Bernardo Soriano, chief of Pagasa’s Atmospheric, Geophysical and Space Sciences Branch (AGSSB), said the Geminid shower is one of the most spectacular meteor showers which sometimes exceeds 100 meteors per hour.

Soriano said Geminid will peak on Dec. 14 to 15, with an average rate of 60 showers per hour.

He said the Geminid shower is active from Dec. 6 to 19, but the best time to watch it is on the morning of Dec. 14.

Soriano said the showers will be visible all over the Philippines starting at around 2 a.m.

“The best time to look is during the early morning hours between about 2 a.m. and dawn,” Pagasa said.   – Helen Flores