đź’« Geminid Meteor Shower
December Meteor Shower
Date: Saturday 13 December 2025
Visible: From 10pm
Experience the meteor shower from your farm stay at Westerlands, a Dark Sky Reserve where the stars shine brightest. Book your stay and enjoy this rare celestial display.
December 2025
Geminid Meteor Shower
Why It’s Special
The Geminid meteor shower is one of the brightest and most reliable annual displays, famous for producing colourful and plentiful shooting stars. In 2025, it will be active from 4–17 December, with the peak on the night of 13–14 December. Unlike most meteor showers, which come from comets, the Geminids originate from the rocky asteroid 3200 Phaethon, giving them a unique place in astronomical history. The full Cold Moon falls earlier in the month, on 4 December, so by the Geminid peak the Moon will be a waning gibbous, about two-thirds illuminated. This means some of the faintest meteors will be lost to moonlight, but the Geminids are strong enough that observers should still see 60–100 meteors per hour under good conditions.
What You’ll Notice
From Westerlands, the radiant point of the shower in the constellation Gemini rises in the northeast during the evening, becoming prominent by 10pm. The best viewing comes after midnight into the early hours, when Gemini is high overhead. The Geminids are striking for their brightness and for the variety of colours they display — greens from magnesium, yellows from sodium, and reds from silicate particles burning up in the atmosphere. Many leave glowing trails, and the occasional fireball meteor can blaze across the Sussex sky with breathtaking brilliance, outshining the Moon itself for a few seconds.
Folklore & Tradition
The Geminids are relative newcomers to human awareness, first recorded in the 1830s. Their parent body, 3200 Phaethon, was only discovered in 1983, and its unusual orbit makes scientists debate whether it is an asteroid or an extinct comet. Unlike the Perseids, the Geminids don’t have centuries of folklore — but in modern times they’ve become known as the “king of meteor showers” because of their reliability and sheer abundance. Watching them in December has become a ritual for skywatchers: a festive natural fireworks show as the year nears its close.
Seasonal Connection
In Sussex, December marks the approach of the winter solstice. Days are short, fields are bare, and nights are long and cold. The Geminids arrive right in the heart of this season, offering a burst of light and colour in otherwise dark skies. Their timing feels almost celebratory, a reminder of cosmic rhythms and renewal. For those venturing out into the frosty countryside, the meteors can feel like sparks of life in the stillness of winter, connecting people to something vast and timeless.
Tips for Viewers
Best Viewing Times: Night of 13–14 December 2025, especially after midnight.
Moonlight: The waning gibbous Moon will wash out faint meteors, but the Geminids’ brighter streaks will still dominate the sky.
Location: An open, dark spot at Westerlands, away from lights, will maximise your view.
Preparation: Dress very warmly, take a reclining chair or blanket, and allow your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust.
Even in a moonlit sky, the Geminids of 2025 promise a dramatic display, painting the frosty Sussex night with flashes of colour and fire.