Meteor shower tonight

 Any given night, far away from the bright lights of the city, you might catch a glimpse of a stunning streak formed by a passing meteor. However, skywatchers can witness a multitude of flares as meteor showers burst in the darkness on special dates spaced throughout the year.

The Geminids are the next event; they begin on Wednesday, December 13, and peak early on Thursday, December 14. They run through December 17.

When our planet collides with the debris fields that icy comets or rocky asteroids leave behind as they orbit the sun, meteor showers happen. In the atmosphere, these tiny particles burn up, creating brilliant light trails. Because orbital mechanics is regular, a meteor shower will always occur atThis year's Geminids, which are frequently among the greatest and most dependable showers on the calendar, will fall during a new moon, making for perfect conditions—that is, assuming the weather holds out.

The shower should become visible in the evening after sunset for viewers in northern latitudes, and after midnight for those in the southern hemisphere. The rates may reach 150 meteors per hour.

Clouds can make an astronomical excursion unfun, even on the darkest night. For most of the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Northern Plains, and Desert Southwest, cloud-free skies are predicted.

However, some areas are probably going to have cloudy skies.

Not everywhere in the Northeast, particularly across parts of New York and into New England, will be unfavorable, but some unlucky stargazers may find their views obscured by ribbons of cloud cover.There will be a greater likelihood of cloud cover throughout Florida, with cloud cover varying from partly cloudy to mostly cloudy. The storm system that will obstruct the view the most will span Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.

While California will continue to enjoy mostly clear skies, Oregon and Washington won't be as fortunate, with cloudy skies dominating the Northwest sky.