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Geminids meteor shower to light up WA skies in best display of the year

Tom ZaunmayrBroome Advertiser
The Perseid meteor shower north of Broome, August 2021.
Camera IconThe Perseid meteor shower north of Broome, August 2021. Credit: Tom Zaunmayr/Broome Advertiser

The Southern Hemisphere’s best meteor shower will peak in the early morning skies over Western Australia on Tuesday, promising between 20 and 50 meteors per hour.

The Geminids are often described as the most reliable meteor shower of the year for Australia and can even be seen prominently in southern areas of the country.

Peaking from the Gemini constellation on the northeast horizon the shower is known for its bright, slow moving meteors.

It is recommended keen stargazers get out to watch the show from about 2am to dawn when the moon has set. While the Geminids can produce bright meteors, finding a location away from light pollution is also recommended.

The shower will be at its best in the North West, but southern WA can still expect to see about 20 meteors per hour so long as the sky is clear.

For keen photographers, a tripod is a must and either remote shutter or time delay setting highly recommended.

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