Geminids to provide meteor shower Thursday tonight

You can enjoy a holiday lights show without the crowds just by gazing up at the night sky until Dec. 17.

Since Dec. 4, the Geminids meteor shower has been visible over Philippine skies, with its “peak” activity expected Thursday night until the early hours of Friday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Observable meteors or “falling stars” in the Geminids shower can reach an average rate of 40 per hour under a dark and cloudless sky. Geminids meteors, Pagasa said, were slightly easier to see.

The Pagasa also advised skygazers to focus their attention on the eastern horizon. The shower appears to radiate from the Gemini (The Twins) constellation, made easier to spot through its two brightest stars Castor and Pollux, just to the left of constellations Orion and Auriga.—JAYMEE T. GAMIL