The meteors are visible right across Australia, but the further north you are, the better.
When and where can I see it? You can see the Geminids from anywhere in Australia, as long as they aren't washed out by the weather. As the name suggests, the meteors appear to come from a point — called the radiant — in the constellation of Gemini above the north-east horizon.
Gemini, the Twins, is visible from the Northern Hemisphere in November through April and in the Southern Hemisphere from December through March.
The Southern Cross
This is easily Australia's most famous constellation. The Southern Cross is a prominent part of the Australian flag and it has always played a major role in Indigenous culture.
The constellation Gemini, the twins, is visible in the northern hemisphere from November through April. It can be seen at latitudes between 90 degrees and -60 degrees. It is a medium-sized constellation that fills an area of 514 square degrees. It ranks 30th in size among the 88 constellations in the night sky.
Gemini is fairly easy to spot in the sky, even for amateur stargazers. It is located northeast of the constellation Orion and between the Taurus and Cancer constellations. Best viewing is during February. By April and May, the constellation can be seen soon after sunset in the west.
Finding Gemini Constellation
Look for Gemini in the sky near the constellations Orion (which has some fascinating sights of its own) and Taurus. For northern hemisphere viewers, it's a winter star pattern and its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, are part of an unofficial asterism called the Winter Hexagon.
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star or Sirius A, is the brightest star in Earth's night sky.
Bottom line: Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky as seen from Earth and is visible from both hemispheres.
Just as in the Northern Hemisphere, the southern night sky is divided into constellations. There are 88 constellations in all; 32 of them are found in the Southern Hemisphere.
Gemini can be seen from September to May but is most convenient to observe from January to March. For evening viewing it is possible from December to May. For those who want to see it from September to November it is only possible in the morning before sunrise.
Gemini lies between Taurus and Cancer in the zodiac. An observer on Earth will see different constellations at different times of the year. Gemini can be seen from December through March in most parts of the world. The best time to see the constellation is at about 9:00 in the evening in mid-February.
The Gemini constellation is located between the Cancer and Taurus constellations in the Northern Hemisphere's second quadrant (NQ2). It is seen between the latitudes of +90 and -60 degrees. If you already know where Orion is, turn your head slightly northeast of that constellation to see Gemini.
If you were born between 21 May and 20 June, you are a Gemini. Ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, you like to talk things out, and your thoughts and opinions strongly shape who you are. You're also curious about the world around you, and you move through life quickly, trying to learn as much as possible.
The annual Eta Aquariids meteor shower peaks in the early morning this Friday May 5 and Saturday May 6. But you need to set your alarm clock. The best time to see them is between 3:00 am and 5:00 am.
Besides the twins Castor and Pollux, constellation Gemini is home to other bright stars. Alhena, or Gamma Geminorum, is a blue-white star with the magnitude of 1.9, which lies at 105 light years from the Sun.
Bright stars
Mighty Sirius, in first place, is visible for all of us.
In the southern hemisphere shines Sirius, the brightest star of all the sky; flashing and scintillating it glows as a mighty diamond of the winter nights.
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. Its name is derived from the Greek word Σείριος, or Seirios, meaning lit. 'glowing' or 'scorching'. The star is designated α Canis Majoris, Latinized to Alpha Canis Majoris, and abbreviated α CMa or Alpha CMa.
The Sun is the brightest star as viewed from Earth, at −26.78 mag. The second brightest is Sirius at −1.46 mag.
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. UPDATE: This article was published in January 2022—if you're reading this in August/September 2022 then here's what you need to know about the very bright “star” in the east after dark.
Because the Sun is in Gemini at the height of summer, the constellation is not visible at that time, and appears most prominently in the sky during the middle of winter (in the Earth's southern hemisphere, this sequence of seasons is reversed).
Gemini stays in view in the evening sky until around May. By late May and June, Gemini is found low in the west at nightfall, and Gemini's two brightest stars – Castor and Pollux – fade into the sunset before the June 21 summer solstice. The sun annually passes in front of Gemini from about June 21 until July 20.