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Best Places Near San Francisco To Watch The Geminid Meteor Shower

Annual Geminid Meteor Shower (credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

If you are looking for some outdoor fun this month in the Bay Area, one of the year's most significant events for stargazers has just begun. The Geminid(s) is the final significant meteor shower of the year and appears annually in the night skies in early December, peaks around December 13th and 14th and concludes a few days later. Named after the Gemini constellation, the meteor shower was discovered in 1862, but in the past 30 years has been a major event for professional and would-be astronomers, and is considered to be one of the most reliable of the annual meteor showers. If you're not certain where to see the Geminids meteor shower in or near San Francisco, here are five of the best places.

Del Valle Reservoir
7000 Del Valle Road
Livermore, CA  94550
(888) 327-2757
www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle

Of all of the best places near San Francisco to watch the Geminid meteor shower, Del Valle Reservoir has arguably the highest "Dark Sky" rating. In other words, this East Bay park is in an area that offers the least amount of light pollution in Northern California and results in the ability to view a greater number of stars. However, the park closes at 6 p.m. and while overnight camping may be available, the weather conditions might be unpredictable. On the other hand, visitors can stay a few hours after dark then drive outside the park and pull over on a suitable spot on Del Valle Road. Del Valle Reservoir is located approximately 10 miles from the city of Livermore and about 15 miles from Pleasanton. Among the other top-rated Dark Sky locations in the Bay Area are Lawrence Hall of Science, Fremont Peak near San Juan Bautista, Henry Coe State Park near Gilroy and Lake Sonoma's Lone Rock, in Sonoma County.

Houge Park
Twilight Drive and White Oaks Ave.
San Jose, CA
(408) 793-5510
www.sanjoseca.gov

The San Jose Astronomical Association will host a handful of events in December, likely coinciding with the Geminid shower. The first event is a Starry Nights Public Star Party Dec. 5 at Rancho Cañada del Oro in Morgan Hill, just 30 minutes south of San Jose. That's followed by a member's only event on Dec. 11 known as the Quick STARt Program, featuring basic instruction into astronomy with the use of equipment such as an Orion XT6 or XT8 scope and a 2X Barlow lens. The Quick STARt Progam and two other events will be held at Houge Park near the intersection of Highways 17 and 85 and just north of Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. Those two other events are an Imaging SIG (Special Interests Group) meeting Dec. 15 and an In-Star Party/Introduction to the Night Sky public gathering on Dec. 18. Members of the public need not register for the public parties nor bring a telescope, although certain etiquette must be observed.

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Land's End
680 Point Lobos Ave.
San Francisco, CA  94121
(415) 426-5240
www.nps.gov

Away from the bulk of San Francisco's city lights, Land's End is an excellent spot to view the spectacular meteor shower just one mile from Golden Gate Park. For visitors unfamiliar with Lands End, this segment of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area lies on the northwestern corner of San Francisco and offers dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean by day. At night the ocean views are compromised, but its the night sky above that will be the central attraction. Vistors can position their telescopes at the Lands End Lookout parking lot or along the coastline headed towards the historic Cliff House, or even further south along Ocean Beach. Visitors are not encouraged to walk the Sutro Ruins Trail at night unless they are very familiar with the pathway and have flashlights in their possession.

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Lawrence Hall Of Science Plaza
1 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, CA  94720
(510) 642-5132
www.lawrencehallofscience.org

The plaza at the Lawrence Hall of Science is certain to be a very popular spot for stargazers during the annual appearance of the Geminid meteor shower. Perched above the University of California Berkeley campus within the Berkeley Hills, the plaza offers one of the most spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay, the campus and the stars above at night. The Hall no longer offers public stargazing sessions, but visitors can bring their own telescopes or binoculars to enjoy the astronomical event and there's a good chance some knowledgeable amateur astronomers will be on hand to offer a few viewing tips. There is plenty of parking adjacent to the Lawrence Hall of Science, just three miles from the heart of downtown Berkeley and about a mile walk from the university's Memorial Stadium.

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Marin Headlands
948 Fort Barry
Sausalito, CA  94965
(415) 331-1540
www.nps.gov

There will be a number of places to view the Geminids within the Marin Headlands. The most obvious spots are along scenic Conzelman Road, which overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. But because parking is limited and may be filled to capacity, other visitors can simply continue on to other places like the Marin Headlands Visitor Center, Rodeo Beach, Muir Beach and the Tennessee Valley. One other exceptional spot to view the meteor show in the area is at Mount Tamalpais, where the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers will hold a members only night at the Rock Springs parking lot.

Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he received a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com
 

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