Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Team
 
From early to mid-December each year, the Geminids meteor shower becomes active — it's the biggest stargazing spectacle of the year. This year, the Geminids will appear between December 4 and 17, with the peak expected on December 15. To welcome the arrival of the Geminids meteor shower and ensure every visitor can enjoy the celestial show smoothly, the Dongshih Forest District Office is hosting two consecutive nights of stargazing events on December 12 and 13. Renowned astronomers Wu Jiande and Lin Qisheng from the Astronomical Society will lead everyone in observing the night sky at the Daxueshan Forest Recreation Area.

The Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area boasts vast vistas, allowing you to take in the entire starry sky. During the two consecutive nights of stargazing events on December 12 and 13, in addition to introducing knowledge about the winter night sky and the Geminids meteor shower, there will also be a guided stargazing session on the evening of the 13th from 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM for visitors to observe the Geminids meteor shower in person and spend a night making wishes upon shooting stars.

How many meteors will the Geminids meteor shower produce? Lin Qisheng from the Taichung Astronomical Society said: “On the evening of the 13th, starting at 8:00 PM and counting meteors from the parking lot of the Daxue Mountain Lodge until dawn, you could see up to nearly 1,000 meteors, or at least more than 500; and in the early hours of the 14th, there’s even a chance to see around 100 meteors per hour — almost two per minute.”

The Geminids meteor shower occurs between December 4 and 17 each year. This year, the peak is expected on the 15th. If you can’t join the stargazing events, visitors can still plan to head up the mountain on other dates to enjoy the view. Falling asleep under a blanket of stars and waking up to the sounds of birds and insects is a great way to relax both body and mind and start anew. The events on the evenings of the 12th and 13th are free for overnight guests. Those interested should sign up with the service staff when checking in. For more information, please contact the Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area Service Center.
 
[Info]
Daxueshan Forest Recreation Area
Address: Kilometer 43, Daxueshan Forest Road, Heping Township
Phone: (04)25877901
Business Hours: Daily 06:00–17:00

Capturing the Starry Sky: 3 Photography Tips for Shooting Stars

http://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=12268