Astronomers consider the Geminids to be one of the most dependable meteor showers occurring each year.

This celestial event is caused by a wide band of debris that Earth encounters annually, resulting in a noticeable increase in meteor sightings.

“Typically, what we see as a shooting star is just a tiny particle, no larger than a grain of sand, burning up roughly 80 kilometers above us,” an expert explained.

Although the meteors seem to scatter across the sky, they appear to originate from a single spot due to perspective, as noted by Horner.

“This essentially means that the dust is colliding with the opposite side of Earth, and we happen to be looking in the wrong direction,” he added.

Although the meteors streak across the entire sky, Horner said they appear to trace back to a single point due to perspective.

“It effectively means the dust is hitting the other side of the Earth and we’re facing the wrong way,” he said.

When is the best time to watch?

“The higher the radiant is in the sky … the more meteors you’ll see,” Horner said.

Under ideal dark-sky conditions with no moon, international observers can sometimes see up to 120 Geminid meteors per hour near peak.

Where should you watch from?

Organised viewing experiences, including guided night hikes, are also operating around the peak.

How can you maximise your chances?

“Find Orion (constellation) if you can and look about 40 degrees left or right. Pick an area that’s quite good, dark sky,” he said.