Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party
Date
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Location
Dark Sky Preserve, Pine Ridge
Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party
Event Recap
What an incredible night! The Geminids put on a spectacular show for our watch party, with clear skies and minimal light pollution at Pine Ridge Dark Sky Preserve.
By the Numbers
- 42 attendees braved the cold
- 120+ meteors spotted during our 4-hour observation
- 3 fireballs lit up the sky (one left a visible trail for 2 seconds!)
- 12°F at the coldest point of the night
Highlights
The peak activity occurred around 1:30 AM, when we counted 35 meteors in just 15 minutes. Several members captured stunning photos, including Marcus Chen’s incredible shot of a bright fireball passing near Orion.
Member Photos
Our astrophotography enthusiasts got some amazing shots:
- Sarah’s wide-field timelapse captured 23 meteor trails
- The club’s 8” telescope revealed the Orion Nebula in stunning detail during breaks
- Several members got their first successful meteor photos!
Community Spirit
A huge thank you to everyone who:
- Brought hot drinks and snacks to share
- Helped newcomers set up their equipment
- Stayed to help pack up at 3 AM!
Special shoutout to the Rodriguez family for the homemade empanadas—they were the perfect midnight snack! 🥟
Looking Ahead
The next major meteor shower will be the Quadrantids in early January. Stay tuned for event announcements!
Gallery
Photos from this event are available in our gallery section. If you took photos you’d like to share, please send them to our social media team.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible. Clear skies until next time!