Clear skies are in store for what’s considered the best meteor shower of the year.

The forecast for the Geminid meteor shower this year is excellent due to the lack of moonlight.

It's expected that 30 to 60 shooting stars per hour will flash across the sky Wednesday night Dec. 13-14 if the weather holds up. Most can be seen from rural areas or places with few lights.  
Southern Arizona will probably be one of the best places in the United States to see this shooting star show.

In the Tucson area sky gazers should expect to drive 30 minutes out of town, to have the best view of the shower.

Astronomers suggest some good viewing areas can be found at the east end of Speedway at Saguaro National Park East, and near the Tucson mountains west of Tucson.

Viewers should start scanning the skies above the eastern, southern and northern horizons and overhead after 9 p.m. on December 13.
Flandrau Science Center on the University of Arizona campus will offer a presentation on the Geminids by UA Steward Observatory astronomer Tom Fleming on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., in Flandrau's Star Theater.

A short sky show about the Geminids, giving a realistic display of the night sky in the planetarium theater, will accompany Dr. Fleming's talk.

The admission price for both will be $2.50.

More information about the meteor shower and the night sky is available on Flandrau's "Astronomy News and Skywatcher's Guide" on the Internet at http://www.flandrau.org . Flandrau also provides stargazing information on its phone line, Flandrau's free Astronomy Newsline, at 520-621-4310.