How to watch the Geminids meteor shower, one of the best of 2020 - CBS News

December brings not only the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, but also one of the year's best and most reliable meteor showers — the Geminids.

The shower is active from December 4 to December 17, peaking on the 13 and 14. .

The Geminids meteor shower is active each December, as Earth zooms through a trail of debris from the small asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

The Geminids, which first began appearing in the mid-1800s appear to radiate from near the constellation Gemini, the "Twins," but meteors can appear in any part of the sky. .

The best time to view the meteors, which are visible across the world, is during the night and predawn hours

The peak of the shower is the night of December 13 into the morning of December 14, but meteor activity will still be strong in the days before and after. 

As always, the best location to view a meteor shower is an open, dark location away from bright city lights