Best Places Near Boston To Watch The Geminid Meteor Shower
Most meteor showers are the result of the Earth passing through the debris of a comet. The Geminid meteor shower is a bit different because it happens when the Earth passes through an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon, not a comet. The Geminids put on an exciting display every mid-December with 100 to 120 meteors per hour careening across the sky, according to NASA. The best place to view the Gemind meteor shower is in a darkened area, away from the bright city lights. The darker the area, the better the view of the meteor shower. There are plenty of great viewing places close to Boston.
The Blue Hills Reservation
695 Hillside St.
Milton, MA 02186
(617) 698-1802
www.mass.gov
This Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is about seven miles south of the city in Milton. There are twenty-two hills that compose the Blue Hills Reservation, with the highest being Great Blue Hill at 635 feet. The summit of Great Blue Hill is a perfect spot to view the Geminid meteor shower. A unique feature of this site is that it also serves as a local ski area. The Blue Hills Weather Observatory, which is a National Historic Landmark, sits atop Great Blue Hill.
The Botume House Headquarters
4 Woodland Road
Stoneham, MA
(617) 727-5380
www.mass.gov
This 2,575-acre natural oasis is nestled about five miles north of Boston and hosts more than 100 miles of trails especially for avid hikers, mountain bikers and rock climbers. The venue name originates from the Saxon word Fells, which means "rocky, hilly tracts of land." There are ponds, a tower and a beautiful 10-acre open field called Sheepfold, usually well-used and enjoyed for picnics and strolls, where the Geminid meteor shower can be readily observed.
Summit Ave.
Brookline, MA 02445
(617) 730-2088 (Brookline Park Department)
www.brooklinema.gov
Brookline is on the south edge of the city of Boston, which makes it easy to access Corey Hill Outlook Park by public transportation. Corey Hill is nicknamed "The Great Hill" because it rises 260 feet above sea level. Since there are many quiet walking paths away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this site offers a great viewing venue for the mid-December Geminid meteor shower.
Lighthouse Inn Road
West Dennis, MA 02670
(508) 760-6259
www.dennischamber.com
This Mid-Cape beach is about a 90-minute ride from Boston and offers a vantage point from which to watch the Geminid meteor showers away from any intrusive lights. The over-one-mile long beach sits on the Nantucket Sound at the mouth of the Bass River with the Old Bass River lighthouse watching over it. Easy access to the beach and abundant parking makes this a great place to experience the beautiful night sky display.
106 Pennybrook Road
Lynn, MA 01905
(781) 477-7123 (Lynn Woods park ranger)
www.cityoflynn.net
Lynn Woods is the second largest municipal park in the U.S. and is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. It is situated just north of the city of Boston and offers a spectacular 2,200-acres from which to watch the Geminid meteor shower in December. The property is managed by the Lynn Parks Department, which was formerly the Trustees for the Free Public Forest.
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Nancy is a native Bostonian. She enjoys the sights, sounds and tastes of Boston while exploring the city by day or night. Nancy is also a school nurse at an independent middle/high school. Her work can be found on a variety of websites, including Examiner.com.
