See a time lapse video of the northern lights dance across the sky north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in Bayside on Thursday night.
Wisconsinites have the chance to glimpse "one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers" next week, according to NASA.
The Geminids, the second-to-last meteor shower of the year, are currently active and slated to peak within the next two weeks.
The Geminids consist of bright, fast meteors, which are typically yellow in color.
While most meteor showers on Earth originate from comets, the Geminids actually come from an asteroid. The originating asteroid, named 3200 Phaethon, was discovered in 1983, though the Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s.
The meteor shower gets name from the constellation Gemini -- also known as the "Twins" -- because the Geminids appear to come from the same point in the sky as the constellation. However, NASA adds that the shower should be visible throughout the sky, so you should not only look toward Gemini for the meteors.
When will the Geminid meteor shower peak?
Though the Geminids are active between Nov. 19 and Dec. 24, they will peak overnight between Dec. 13 and 14, according to Space.com. The shower should start around 9 or 10 p.m. local time and last till dawn, NASA says.
The meteor shower will peak just before this month's full moon on Dec. 15, meaning a particularly bright moon may obscure visibility for skywatchers. However, barring interference from the moonlight, the shower may bring up to 120 meteors per hour at its peak, according to NASA.
Tips to view the Geminids
Here are some tips for viewing the Geminids, per NASA:
Are there any other meteor showers in 2024?
After the Geminids, there is one more meteor shower left in the year: the Ursids.
The Ursids are considered a "low-key" shower, according to Earth Sky. Viewers may see as many as five to 10 meteors an hour in a dark sky during the peak, and the best time to see the shower will be before dawn on Dec. 22 and 23.
Best places to view celestial events in Wisconsin
The best conditions to see the night sky will be with clear skies without clouds or haze. Make sure to check the forecast before heading out.
Here's a list of places in Wisconsin that could offer some of the best views of the night sky: