A massive meteor shower is coming this weekend. Here’s how to see it

A giant meteor shower is set to pass over Australia this weekend, but one thing is threatening our chances of seeing the spectacular shoW.

Australia will be blessed with an enormous Geminid meteor shower this weekend, though the bright moon is threatening to put a stop to the show.

The dazzling meteor shower is a welcome sight every year, passing over Australia in December when the planet moves through the debris left behind by 3200 Phaethon, an unusual asteroid that more closely resembles a comet.

While comets are made up of ice, asteroids are rocky and several times more dense, burning brighter when they enter Earth’s atmosphere and become a meteor.

The Geminids meteor showers occur annually in December. Picture: Asim Patel

When is the Geminid meteor shower?

This year’s Geminid meteor shower, which was named after the constellation Gemini, will be on peak display between Friday, December 13 and Sunday, December 15, though the shower itself will end on December 24.

You can catch a pretty good glimpse of the shower on the morning of Friday, December 13.

However, the best views will happen on Saturday morning.

If you miss both of these early mornings, there will be a small window of opportunity on Sunday morning.

Where can I see the Geminid meteor shower?

Although the Geminid meteor shower is usually a dazzling show, this year’s shower will have to compete against the bright near-full moon, which may affect visibility.

Luckily, there is an hour window where you can catch a glimpse of the stunning meteor shower, which is visible from every point in Australia, though residents further north will likely have better visibility.

To get the best view, try to find a dark place that gives you optimal views of the sky uninterrupted by city lights, trees or buildings.

You should also avoid using your phone, headlights and torches, as they could distort the view.

This year’s meteor shower will have to compete with a bright almost-full moon. Picture: NASA

What time can I see the meteor shower?

The best time to see the Geminid meteor shower is between moonset and dawn, giving people about an hour to catch a glimpse.

“The moonlight is so bright it hides all but the brightest meteors,” The University of Sydney astronomer Jonti Horner told the ABC.

“It’s best to look in the early hours of the morning before dawn rather than looking before midnight.”

Depending on where you live, moonset will take place on Saturday morning at the following times*:

• Brisbane: 3.08am

• Sydney: 4.00am

• Canberra: 4.03am

• Melbourne: 4.14am

• Adelaide: 4.17am

• Hobart: 3.45am

• Perth: 3.30am

• Darwin: 4.43am

• All times are local time zones

Originally published as A massive meteor shower is coming this weekend. Here’s how to see it