Some dates for your diaries...

[Adrena1in]

The Annual Geminid Meteors are due any day now. They should appear from around about yesterday to the 20th, peaking on the 14th. If we're lucky they should be a lot better than the Perseids. For a start, the moon's going to be out of the way, so the fainter meteors will be more visible. Secondly, Gemini passes right near the zenith, (in the UK anyway). And thirdly, the Zenithal Hourly Rate, (ZHR), is higher than that of the Perseids...100 as opposed to 80. So with good conditions we should be seeing one or two a minute next week. They're often brighter and slower than other Meteors.

Here's a Wiki page on Gemini (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_(constellation)). The Geminids should eminate from near the star Castor, (which is actually a Sextuple Star system...six stars gravitationally bound together!)

We're getting two full moons this month, which is quite rare. Not a particularly good photographic opportunity, but on New Years Eve there'll be a partial lunar eclipse (http://www.eclipse.org.uk/eclipse/1622009/). Click the link for details on what level of eclipse you'll see, (and good luck understanding it! ;) )

[cinder3d]

Good Stuff! I was out last night and saw quite alot of meteors! I was not aware of it starting until the 13th, so now it all makes better sense! :)

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Question... is this going to be visible in Canada? Southwestern Ontario. N 42*56'53 W82*02'45 to be precise.

[Adrena1in]

I stood outside for a few minutes last night and didn't see any, but I'm going to lay back on a deck chair this time next week, (assuming it clear), and stay out for a few hours, camera clicking away by my side.

J-o-a-T, you're on a similar latitude to me, so you shouldn't have any problems seeing some meteors, weather permitting. For me in the UK, Gemini rises in the east at around 6pm in the evening, and reaches maximum elevation at around 2am. Should be roughly the same for you.

[Jill-of-all-Trades]

Cool, thanks. I'll have to try and catch them. Although I'm not sure I'd survive lying out on the deck, it's starting to get rather chilly here and there is a cold snap headed our way. Might make for some clear skies though.

[drevilsmom]

Dangit, looks like we can't see the lunar eclipse here in the states. According to the site, our next big chance where I am at will be on the 21st of December, 2010.