JEFFERSON CITY, – First reported by a riverboat captain on the Mississippi River in 1833, the annual Geminid meteor shower has been captivating viewers for nearly two centuries, and it keeps getting better.
Due to the gravitational influence of Jupiter, the meteor shower’s brilliant streaks are becoming visibly brighter with each passing year as Earth orbits through the dust trail left by orbiting asteroid 3200 Phaethon, making its December appearance high in the southern sky near the constellation Gemini a must-see event.
To mark this year’s spectacular meteor shower, a few Missouri state parks in the southern region of the state are holding rare after-dark events.
- Saturday, Dec. 13 at Elephant Rocks State Park, 7406 Highway 21 in Belleview, Missouri.
From 5 p.m. to midnight, guests are invited to view the show. If you like stargazing and light shows, join the team at the park to create a lifelong memory. No telescopes or binoculars are needed, as the shower can be viewed with the naked eye. Please dress for the weather and remember the temperature on the rocks is often lower than the average local temperature. Portable chairs and blankets are recommended.
- Saturday, Dec. 13 at Roaring River State Park, 12716 Farm Road 2239 in Cassville, Missouri.
Witness the Geminid meteor shower, one of the biggest of the year! Dress warmly for a night of stargazing and meteor viewing. The event will take place in the Emory Melton Inn parking lot, just south of the park office along Highway 112 from 8-10 p.m. The inn restaurant will be selling warm grab-and-go food and drinks during the event.
- Saturday, Dec. 13 at Bennett Spring State Park, 26250 Hwy. 64A in Lebanon, Missouri.
Join the team for the meteor showers that will produce more than 75 meteors per hour, leaving behind colorful trails of light. This program begins in the nature center at 8 p.m. with a short presentation and information about the best viewing locations. Please dress for the weather and bring chairs or blankets to sit on.
For more astronomy-related events, please visit mostateparks.com/astronomy. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit www.mostateparks.com
Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.