The Geminids are a yearly meteor shower that can be seen in December. The shower usually peaks around the 13th – 14th, with the highest intensity seen in the morning of the 14th at around 2am to 3am GMT. It seems to be intensifying every year and recent showers have seen up to 120 meteors per hour.

A Geminid fireball explodes over the Mojave Desert in 2009. Photo: Wally Pacholka / ASTROPICS.COM

It’s not entirely known where the Geminids originate from, but astronomers believe they might be a product of small asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Most meteor showers come from passing comets, but not the Geminids. Says NASA’s astronomer Bill Cooke:

The Geminids are my favorite, because they defy explanation. We just don’t know. Every new thing we learn about the Geminids seems to deepen the mystery.

Wherever they come from, they’re sure to put on a good show. Here’s to hoping we’ll have clear skies in Amsterdam tonight.

(Read more at the NASA website.)