You want to see the best “shooting star” display in 2023, but it’s just too cold outside. That’s a typical attitude to the Geminid meteor shower, the famous but little enjoyed exhibition of shooting stars that occurs each December.
There is a way to see “shooting stars” without needing to stand outside—and all you need is a camera and a tripod.
The Geminids: When And Where
The Geminid meteor shower will peak overnight on Wednesday, December 13, through Thursday, December 14. However, “shooting stars” should be visible by 22:00 because Gemini’s source constellation will already be high in the southeast.
The Geminids: Seasonal Challenges
This particular meteor shower is at its best, as seen from the northern hemisphere, where Gemini reaches its highest in the night sky. That’s where it’s coldest in December. One of the very few displays of “meteor showers” that is caused by an asteroid (3200 Phaethon), it produces up to 150 multicolored “shooting stars” per hour at its peak.
So you don’t want to miss this—and yet most stargazers will do even if they do have clear skies.
The Geminids: How To Set Up The Shot
Put a mirrorless or DSLR camera wearing a wide-angle lens on a tripod. Using infinity focus (look for the ∞ symbol on the focus dial), an aperture of f/2.8 (or whatever the lowest f-number your lens can achieve setting), a shutter speed of 30 seconds and approximately ISO 800-1600, take test images. Make sure the results are sharp by zooming in on the LCD screen.
The Geminids: How To Take Photos Of ‘Shooting Stars’
Once you’re happy, use an intervalometer or a shutter release cable and take image after image automatically. With the camera set up and shooting, you can go back inside. Leave it shooting for at least a couple of hours without touching it. That way, you can look through all of its images later and drag them all into the free StarStaX software to create a bonus star trail image showing Earth’s rotation.
Most importantly, you’ll probably catch a “shooting star” or two without standing outside in the cold for hours. You will, of course, need a clear sky for any of this to work. It will also work best if you’re away from light pollution or, at the very least, ensure no light sources are in your shot.
The Best Meteor Showers In 2024
In 2024, three major meteor showers will take place under moonless skies:
- Quadrantid meteor shower (January 3/4): 60-200 “shooting stars” per hour at the peak
- Eta Aquariids (May 5/6): 10-20 per hour
- Perseids (August 12-13): 100 per hour
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
