Geminids Meteor Shower Night

Two nights at Beyond Earth Observatory in Pench to watch the Geminids, one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, under some of the darkest skies in central India.

The event

• Dates: Sunday 13 and Monday 14 December 2026, two nights.
• Where: Beyond Earth Observatory, Awargani, Kohka, Pench, Madhya Pradesh. How to reach us.
• Timings and booking: message us on WhatsApp for the schedule and details for each night.
• Stay: our homestay, Astro Village, is next to the observatory, so you can watch late and rest close by. Ask us about rooms for families, friends and groups.

Why the Geminids

The Geminids are often the best meteor shower of the year. At its best it can produce up to about 120 meteors an hour from a dark site. The meteors are bright and often colourful, and they come from the dust trail of the asteroid Phaethon, which is unusual, because most showers come from comets. They seem to fan out from the constellation Gemini, near the bright star Castor, and you can see them anywhere in the sky.

What the sky will be like

The Moon will be a young crescent on both nights, about a fifth lit on 13 December and about a quarter lit on 14 December, and it sets in the late evening. That leaves the later part of the night dark, which is when the Geminids are strongest. Meteors are best seen after about 10 pm, and the show usually builds towards the early hours. Clear weather is the one thing we cannot promise, so we will confirm conditions with you before the night.

Plan for the night

• Dress warmly. December nights in Pench are cold, and you will be sitting still. Bring a jacket, a cap and a blanket if you have one.
• You do not need a telescope or binoculars. Meteors are best seen with your own eyes, lying back and looking at a wide patch of sky.
• Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust, and keep phone screens dim.
• Children are welcome. Tell us how many people are coming when you message us.

Questions

How much does it cost? Contact us on WhatsApp or by phone for details and availability.

Can I come for just one night? Yes. Choose either night, or both.

Where can I read more about meteor showers? See our guide to meteor showers visible from India.