Less well known than the Lyrides, which pass through our skies in April, or the Perseids, which we observe in August, the Geminids offer us a shower of shooting stars, just as beautiful to behold. This majestic celestial phenomenon should be visible in French skies from December 4 to 20, 2025, with peak activity expected on the night of December 13, to round off the year and get the festive season off on the right foot!
One of the most beautiful shooting star showers of the year, the Geminids will once again pass over the French sky in the first half of December. Known to be particularly luminous, these stars should impress all those lucky enough to observe them. Usually, between 60 and 75 meteors can be seen in the sky every hour.
At its peak, this special shower can show 120 to 160 meteors in a single hour! To make sure you don't miss them, it's best to look up towards the constellation Gemini, above the eastern horizon. Unlike other shooting star showers, Geminids do not originate from comets. They are created by an asteroid or extinct comet, object 3200 Phaethon.
This object, named after the son of Helios, god of the Sun, passes very close to our star: its trajectory is quite different from that of other celestial objects, contributing a little more to the special character of these Geminids. Phaethon is not made of ice, but of rock. It is also surrounded by a cloud of particulate dust: it is this dust that ignites and glows as it passes through our atmosphere, creating the well-known phenomenon that continues to fascinate us.
Get ready and stay awake, even if we warn you right away: with the light pollution of cities, at night it would be better to be in the countryside or on higher ground to get a good look at the shooting stars. This year, the Moon will be in its last quarter, and despite the wintry conditions, you should be able to observe these beautiful meteors. Go on, make a wish!
The best spots to admire shooting stars and the sky in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
Numerous shooting star nights punctuate the year, as do astronomical events, which can be admired weather permitting, in places with less pollution. But where can you find these rare gems in Paris and the Ile-de-France region? [Read more]
Dates and Opening Time
From December 13, 2025 to December 14, 2025
The best spots to admire shooting stars and the sky in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
