December is all about glittering lights – but before you think of checking out a winter installation, a pop-up, or a neighbourhood tree lighting, don’t forget to just look up. Luckily enough, mother nature is also putting on a show for us, making this month even more special.
The Geminid Meteor Shower
This wonderful event will steal every stargazer’s heart. It goes on for weeks, but it peaks around the middle of December. The brightest nights are estimated to be the 13th and the 14th. And while there’s a chance to catch the beautiful show from any place, we know that the best spot to see shiny lights is from a dark spot. And let’s be honest – Vegas isn’t exactly that.
Best place to catch The Geminid Meteor Shower from
Leaving the city for a quiet nature escape is always a good idea when it comes to capturing celestial events such as this one or full moons. But according to National Parks Gram, Death Valley National Park is the place to be if you’re looking for that perfect experience (or that perfect shot). That’s because it has some of the darkest skies in the U.S., making it one of the best places to watch the show on December 13–14, 2025.
What’s a meteor shower?
A meteor shower happens when Earth moves through a trail of tiny debris left behind by a comet or an asteroid. These bits of dust and rock hit our atmosphere at very high speeds and burn up, creating the bright sparks we call “shooting stars.” Many meteors appear in a short period of time, all seeming to come from the same point in the sky.
Meteor showers happen around the same dates every year because Earth passes through the same debris streams on its orbit. On clear, dark nights, you won’t need a telescope for nature’s big show.
What is the Geminid Meteor Shower?
The Geminids get their name from the constellation Gemini. They come from the dust trail left by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Each December, Phaethon swings close to the sun and then heads back out past Mars, leaving behind a stream of debris that Earth passes through. Astronomers consider the Geminids one of the most dependable and impressive meteor showers of the year.
And in 2025, this coincides with minimal moonlight, for an even more impressive experience. Don’t miss it!