Residents across Czechia will have an exceptional chance to watch one of the most reliable meteor showers of the year this Saturday night.

One of the year’s most spectacular meteor showers, the Geminids, is set to peak this weekend, offering a dazzling celestial display.

These fiery tails, often called “shooting stars,” occur when fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up.

Skygazers could see up to 120 meteors per hour under dark skies during the peak Saturday night into Sunday’s predawn hours, according to NASA.

Although the phenomenon occurs every December, this year’s viewing window stands out. According to astronomer Petr Gorálek from the Opava Physics Institute, the Moon will rise late enough that its light will not interfere with visibility during the most active hours.

For skywatchers, that means a darker sky and a higher chance of spotting long, bright trails.

The ideal period spans midnight to around 4 a.m., when the meteor stream crosses Earth’s orbit at its most intense point. While the Geminids begin appearing from December 4 and continue until roughly December 17, the brief peak offers the greatest density of visible meteors.

Astronomers advise heading away from city lights and choosing a spot with a clear, wide view of the sky. December’s frequent temperature inversions can reduce visibility in low-lying areas, so higher ground or open countryside tends to offer better conditions.

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No special equipment is necessary; meteors can appear in any part of the sky, and the only real requirement is patience.

The Geminids appear to originate from the constellation Gemini, which gives the shower its name. The light streaks are produced when fragments of interplanetary debris enter the atmosphere at high speed, heating up and leaving brief glowing trails that most people simply call shooting stars.

While this year’s display is expected to be strong, astronomers note that 2026 will bring an even bigger highlight: a bright partial solar eclipse on 12 August.

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