By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
From early to mid-December each year, the Geminid meteor shower appears, marking the largest stargazing event of the year. This year, the Geminid meteor shower will occur between December 4 and 17, with the peak expected on December 15. To welcome the arrival of the Geminid meteor shower and ensure every visitor can enjoy the celestial show smoothly, the Dongshih Forest District Office has invited astronomers Wu Jiande and Lin Qisheng to host stargazing events on the evenings of December 12 and 13. These two consecutive nights will allow everyone to stargaze together in the Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area.

The Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area boasts a wide expanse of sky, allowing you to take in the entire starry expanse. During the two-night stargazing events on December 12 and 13, in addition to introducing knowledge about the winter night sky and the Geminid meteor shower, a special stargazing session is planned for the evening of December 13 from 10:00 PM to 11:30 PM, where visitors can observe the Geminid meteor shower in person and spend a night making wishes upon shooting stars.

How many meteors can you see during the Geminid meteor shower? Lin Qisheng from the Taichung Astronomical Society said: “On the evening of the 13th, if you start counting meteors from 8:00 PM at the Daxue Mountain Lodge parking lot and keep counting until dawn, you might see up to around 1,000 meteors, or at least over 500. And in the early hours of the 14th, you could even spot around 100 meteors per hour—almost two per minute.”

The Geminid meteor shower occurs between December 4 and 17 each year, with this year’s peak expected on the 15th. If you can’t join the stargazing activities, visitors can still plan to head up the mountain on other days to enjoy the show. Fall asleep under the starlit sky and wake up to the sounds of birds and insects, relaxing your body and mind for a fresh start. The two-night events on the 12th and 13th are free for overnight guests. Those who wish to participate 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

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