Last Big Meteor Shower Of The Year: When, How To See Geminid Star Show

A spectacular Geminid meteor shower is set to happen just before the year ends. The Geminid meteor shower will coincide with a full moon, and not just any other full moon, but the the third "supermoon" this year.

Last month, the closest supermoon to ever approach the earth enthralled every sky watchers. For those who missed it, there will be another one this December 14 , although it won't be as big as the previous one. It will reach peak fullness at 7:05pm EST.

Science Alert notes that the supermoon will likely make the Geminid meteor shower dimmer than the usual, but that is no reason to not anticipate the meteor shower.

"The meteors tend to be particularly bright, prolific, and reliable, and they can leave long persistent trails through the night sky," the report says.

Space.com said this month's Geminid meteor shower will be visible on the night of December 13 and morning of December 14.

While it usually blasts off 120 meteors per hour under the dark and dim sky, because of the supermoon, you will likely see only 40 meteors per hour. It will likely peak at 2:00 a.m. local time, regardless of where you are located on the earth. Earth Sky explains that it is because the constellation Gemini will reach its highest point for the night around 2:00 a.m.

Those in the Northern Hemisphere viewers can start spotting meteors just after sunset while those in the Southern Hemisphere would see it just after midnight.

New Jersey.com had an interview with Chris Fenwick, an astronomer at the Longo Planetarium at the County College of Morris in Randolph, to ask about how viewers can have a great view of the Geminid meteor shower.

Fenwick said timing, location and direction are crucial if you want to improve your chances of witnessing the awesome flares.

"You'll want to look on the other side of the sky, away from the moon," Fenwick said. "If you have trees around your house shading the moon, even better," the astronomer added.

The moon will be rising in the eastern sky.