They're baaaaack!!!!

Ah yes, it's time for the incredible Geminid meteor showers and this year will prove to be the best sightings ever, so "they" say.  I love the Geminids.

Dress warm for this one.  Look on the 13th till the 17th, I'd say, and expect cold weather - prepare for it, but it's going to be worth the extra mittens since no moon so better viewing, start gazing around 8 PM EDT, 10 will be peak time.  Tonight Luna starts a new phase, by the way.

Look for the Gemini constellation, as you know, and the radiant or place where the meteors will eminate, will be Castor, one of the twins (Pollux and Castor, stars that make up the heads of the twins).  Geminids are mighty but graceful all at once, these are the "stellar" meteors to see, as you might remember from last year (it's Christmas again already????)  They'll be bright, slow, arcing graceful fireballs.  You MUST not miss them, and you don't need any equipment for Geminids.  Eyes will do.

Depending on your locale, look for Gemini in the east-northeast right around twilight's end, you can catch a few of the early ones before the peak hour of 10 PM.  It'll be dazzling, more so than last year when Luna obscured alot of the event. 

Also in Gemini this month is MARS which you'll see easily, in an orange light. You can't miss our "war god" planet if you're looking for "Gems".  Best of gazing to you! 

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Basics courtesy of Sky & Telescope, Gryphon, star charts and finally, my own memory!