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Without question of doubt, near the top of the list of the very best celestial events of 2025 would be the upcoming performance of the Geminid meteor shower. This pre-Christmas display of celestial fireworks is due to reach its peak during the long, dark overnight hours of Saturday, Dec. 13, into the morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 14.

When the radiant is anywhere close to overhead — say by midnight — you may see as many as 120 to 150 Geminids per hour under an excellent dark sky. [If possible, travel away from tall buildings and light pollution for best viewing]

Most meteor showers originate from comets, but the Geminids come from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon that measures just 3.17 miles across. This unusual asteroid wasn't discovered until 1983 by NASA's Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), making the Geminids unique as the only major meteor shower with a parent body that was discovered after the shower itself.

Unlike most meteor showers that fade over millennia, the Geminids are actually getting stronger each year as Earth moves deeper into Phaethon's debris trail.

Go to a dark location after 8 p.m., and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust. The show will peak between midnight and before dawn. Look northeast toward the constellation Gemini, where the radiant point (where meteors appear to originate) will be located. Gemini rises in the northeast after sunset.

However, don't stare directly at the radiant — meteors will appear throughout the sky, and you'll see longer "trails" by looking 45 to 90 degrees away from Gemini.

Bring a blanket or reclining chair and try the lie-down trick — you'll see more meteors looking up at a 45-degree angle than craning your neck straight up. A red flashlight will help preserve your night vision better than white light. Remember to check the weather before you go and to wear plenty of warm clothing if it's cold where you live. And bring a friend if possible!

About 65% of all "Gems" appear pure white, 25 percent yellow, and all the rest can appear in a variety of different hues: red, orange, and blue, even green. Some say they seem to appear brighter and more colorful during the pre-midnight hours.

You might still catch a few late stragglers on the night of Dec.15-16, but after that, the curtain has lowered and the 2025 performance of the Geminids will be over.

New York's iconic Statue of Liberty gazing at the orange-hued Buck supermoon.  July 3, 2023

Nebula N79!

The James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a new image showcasing a vibrant, star-forming region in a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, as reported by Space.com on Tuesday.

The image, characterized by striking hues of orange, yellow, and blue, displays the interstellar atomic hydrogen of nebula N79. This nebula, sprawling across 1,630 light years, is situated in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The newly captured image highlights the active star formation within N79, an area that remains largely uncharted by astronomers. Notably, N79 is recognized as a younger counterpart to the Tarantula Nebula, another recent subject of the telescope's observations in the Large Magellanic Cloud, positioned approximately 161,000 light-years from Earth.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? Job 7:17