Only recently we were able to see auroras over Austria and last week the highest supermoon of the year rose over Vienna, and the next celestial highlight is already following. The Geminids are currently visible again and will reach their full intensity in the next few days. We’ll tell you when and how you can best observe them in Vienna.
Up to 150 shooting stars per hour
The Geminids have increased in activity over the last few decades and now even surpass the Perseids. They reached their absolute peak in 2015 with almost 200 shooting stars per hour. Since then, the number has decreased again and ranges between 140 and 150, with this being the maximum value. On average, you can still see an impressive 30 to 60 shooting stars per hour.
The Geminids differ from other meteor streams in many ways. For example, they do not come from a comet, as is usually the case, but from an asteroid. This is located near the constellation Gemini, from which the Geminids take their name. They shine brighter than other meteors and also move more slowly at 35 kilometers per hour. As a result, they appear as a white-yellow tail in the sky and are particularly easy to see.
The Geminids over Vienna
The meteor stream is active from December 7 to 17. It reaches its peak on the night of December 13 to 14, i.e. from Saturday to Sunday. They can be seen from the early evening hours after dark and shine in the sky all night long. However, the brightest shooting stars shine after midnight, after the radiant has reached its peak in the south-southeast.
So if you want to watch the Geminids over Vienna, mark Saturday night in red in your calendar. If the sky is cloudless, you should be able to see them even in the city, but places with less light pollution are even better. The meteors are brightest shortly after midnight, but you should also be able to spot them before then if visibility is good. So make a date with friends and family or plan a romantic date and make a wish together while you marvel at the impressive Geminids.