Look Up! Nature's Light Show, The Geminid Meteor Shower Is On
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Look up. There's a light show overhead.
The Geminid meteor shower is streaking through the skies Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
Clear skies permitting, the show begins at 9 p.m. and will continue until sunrise. Try to find the darkest patch of sky possible for maximum viewing.
Meteor showers don't actually travel to us Earthlings. We make our way to them as our planet passes through the path of debris left by a comet. Geminids trail behind a 3-mile-wide asteroid named 3200 Phaeton.
The Geminids could be pretty bright but are best seen far from the city lights. You don't need a fancy telescope. Just relax and let your eyes adjust to the darkness and scan the sky. Scientists say there may be as many as 60 meteors per hour. Consider yourself very lucky if you see 20.
Enjoy the show!