Keen to see meteor shower in S’pore skies on Dec 13? Visibility in rainy season can be a problem

SINGAPORE – Stargazers will have their eyes firmly fixed on the night sky on Dec 13 hoping to see the dazzling Geminid meteor shower that will look like balls of fire falling from the heavens.

The shower is likely to light up the sky from about 11pm but there is a chance that the event might turn out to be a damp squib.

Singapore-based astronomy interest groups have warned that catching the celestial event at its best and brightest can be challenging, in the light of recent rainy weather.

Astronomy enthusiast group Stargazing Singapore, in a Facebook post on Dec 12, said the Geminid meteor shower will likely not be visible in Singapore, given prevailing north-east monsoon weather conditions.

It said: “During this period, skies are primarily overcast and cloudy, reducing visibility for astronomical events like meteor showers.”

Even if the skies are clear, the chances of seeing the meteors are slim, but in the end, it is down to one’s luck, it added.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Astronomical Society of Singapore (Tasos) said Singapore’s light pollution and the bright moon in 2024 will add to the challenges of spotting the meteors.

Tasos president Soh Kim Mun said December skies are generally cloudy or rainy, and that could further diminish the chances of witnessing the meteor shower. He also said the glare of the moon could make the meteor shower less visible.

Tasos, he added, captured an image of the Geminid meteor shower in 2023 – taken when the moon was not visible the whole night. “It was also cloudy then, so we only had a small window of less than three hours to see it, although we observed the sky from 10pm to 4am,” he said.

According to the Observatory at Science Centre Singapore, the Geminid meteor shower is one of the most visible annual meteor showers. It originates from debris left by the asteroid 3200 Phaeton.

The Geminid meteor shower comes around every year.  In 2024, it is active between Nov 19 and Dec 24, and will peak between Dec 13 and Dec 14, the Observatory said. Up to 120 meteors an hour will shoot across the sky on Dec 13, and will be visible under ideal conditions.

For amateur astronomers and curious Singaporeans still keen to try their luck, the constellation Gemini, from which the meteors radiate, rises at 8.50pm in Singapore’s north-eastern sky, Stargazing Singapore said in its Facebook post.

The best time to observe the meteors is from midnight to 6am, and any open space away from city lights is ideal, the group added.

It is best to lie down comfortably and look up, as meteors can appear from any part of the sky. While no special equipment is needed, patience and a bit of luck are key.

The Geminids are a spectacular event for astronomy enthusiasts. If the skies clear up, keep your eyes peeled for bright fireballs streaking across the sky.