How to See the “Christmas Comet” and the Meteor Shower This Year Gemini
If you can withstand the cold long enough to find a clear patch of night sky, you will be able to observe two bright astronomical events in December: the 46P / Wirtanen Christmas Comet and the Geminids meteor shower.
The comet will be closer to Earth than it has been in the past 400 years, but it will be difficult to see it with the naked eye. Better to find a location away from light pollution and look for diffused dim light just below the Pleiades. (The Pleiades are stars that form a tiny cluster near Taurus, near the constellation Orion. EarthSky has a useful map showing where in the sky to look.)
The comet is easier to see with binoculars or a telescope. On December 16, it will be closest to Earth – less than 8 million miles away. You can also watch the comet on the Internet. The virtual telescope will be shown on December 12 and 16, starting at 5:00 pm EST.
Can’t see a comet or just want an extra light show? The Geminids meteor shower also occurs this month and will peak on December 13 and 14 at approximately 2 a.m. local time. The meteors seem to come from the Gemini region, but they fly quite far across the sky, so NASA simply recommends finding a dark place, letting your eyes get used to the dark, and looking up.