Shooting stars in Sussex skies due to provide one of most dazzling displays ever

Sussex sky-watchers have the chance to see a spectacular display of shooting stars tomorrow and Thursday.

The Geminid meteor shower, which returns every December, is predicted to be one of the most dazzling ever.

An almost absent moon will ensure that the meteors, widely regarded as the most impressive of the year, stand out brightly as they streak across the sky.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The best time to see the Geminids will be between 1am and 2am on Wednesday and Thursday.

A few clouds and possible light rain is forecast for Sussex on Wednesday evening but there should be clear skies too.

Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: “They’ll be very good because there’s virtually no moonlight getting in the way at all.

Weather permitting, it could be one of the best displays we’ve had for a long time. The last one like this was in 2014, when there was very little moon.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“On average, you should see one or two meteors a minute, maybe 90 per hour under really good conditions.

“Some of the brightest meteors I’ve seen have been Geminids. They move relatively slowly across the sky so are easy to photograph, and you can get one or two fireballs among them.”

The shooting stars will appear to emerge from a “radiant” point in the constellation of Gemini, the Twins, in the south-east.

However, looking towards the constellation of Orion and the nearby Pleiadies or “Seven Sisters” star cluster may provide the best view, says Mr Scagell.

Meteors are tiny particles, often no bigger than a grain of sand, normally shed by icy comets.

Related topics: