When to watch
The Geminids are active December 4 to 17, 2026, and peak on the night of December 13 into the morning of December 14 (Star Walk (opens in new tab), IMO meteor calendar (opens in new tab)). Maximum is expected around 14:00 GMT on December 14, with strong rates from about 21:00 GMT on December 13 to 18:00 GMT on December 14 (Star Walk (opens in new tab)). For the US and Canada that means the night of Sunday December 13 is the one to plan around.
Under a truly dark sky the rate can reach up to about 120 to 150 meteors per hour at the radiant overhead (American Meteor Society (opens in new tab), Star Walk (opens in new tab)). Real counts are lower, but this is still the best shower of the year for most people.
Moon interference
Good news for 2026. The Moon is a thin waxing crescent, about 20% lit, on peak night, and it sets in the evening (Star Walk (opens in new tab)). New Moon is December 9 and First Quarter is December 17 (US Naval Observatory (opens in new tab)). Check your local moonset with timeanddate (opens in new tab). After it sets, the sky is dark for the rest of the night.
Where to look
The meteors seem to come from Gemini, which rises in the east in the evening (Star Walk (opens in new tab)). You do not need to stare at Gemini. Lie back and look at a wide patch of sky about halfway up. Rates climb through the night and are highest around 2 a.m. local time (Star Walk (opens in new tab)), but unlike most showers the Geminids are worth watching from mid evening.
Where to go
Darkness matters more than anything. From the directory:
- Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
- Torrance Barrens, Ontario
- Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan
- Big Bend National Park, Texas, for a warmer December night
What to pack
- The warmest clothes you own, plus a sleeping bag or blankets to lie in
- A reclining chair or foam pad, so you are not lying on frozen ground
- A thermos, snacks, and a red light
- No telescope or binoculars; your eyes are the best tool for meteors
Quick answers
When do the Geminids peak in 2026? The night of December 13 to 14, 2026 (Star Walk (opens in new tab)).
Will the Moon be a problem? No. It is a thin crescent that sets in the evening (Star Walk (opens in new tab)).
What time is best? After moonset, with the highest rates around 2 a.m. local time (Star Walk (opens in new tab)).
How many meteors will I see? Up to about 120 to 150 per hour under ideal dark skies, fewer in practice (American Meteor Society (opens in new tab)).