Went outside last night a little after 9pm and looked east for a chance Geminid meteor as the peak was perdicted for the coming early morning before sunrise. The Twins were rising about 25 degrees above the horizon, Jupiter was about 10 degrees from Castor and Pollux and the bright moon was high in the southern sky. I got lucky within 5 minutes I saw a bright long (around 3 seconds) meteor originating from the twins heads, going west towards and past the Pleiades.

Well, that gave me encouragement to get up for the 4am predicted peak and brave the cold weather. I stand with coffee in hand using it as a hand warmer looking west a little after 4am. The moon was setting below the horizon and the Twins were high in the clear western sky so viewing was optimal for a Geminid shower for my light polluted area.

The first fifteen minutes nothing, oh boy as I’m thinking they missed on the ‘magic time’ as my feet start to register the cold and then a couple fast short burst seconds apart sparks my attention. Then a few minutes later more short bright and fast meteors radiating from the Twins as they seem to be coming in groups and heading north, south and west but none towards the east. Then later about 45 minutes into the cold morning stand a 2 second bright white meteor lights up the sky heading into Leo and leaving a faint trail lasting a good second.

Well, that was enough for me and I think there will be good reports for the 2013 Geminids meteor shower like 80 per hour in those dark sky areas.