The most effective meteor shower of the year starts Friday. Here are actually the best techniques to see.

One of the strongest meteor showers of the year is set to begin this week, and sky watchers are eagerly awaiting their peak in two weeks because there will be no moonlight then to obscure viewing.

The Geminids begin Friday and will be active through Dec. 17. When they reach their peak Dec. 13-14, the lunar phase will be “new moon,” so the moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth at night. It will be above us during the day, but it won’t be visible because its illuminated side will be facing away from us.

In other words, it will be the darkest of nights when the Geminids peak.

Meteor showers take their names from the constellations where they appear to emanate, and in this case, it’s the constellation Gemini. At peak, the Geminids can produce 120 meteors per hour, traveling at 22 miles per second.

“The Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, and meteor enthusiasts are certain to circle December 13 and 14 on their calendars,” according to a post on the website of the American Meteor Society. “This is the one major shower that provides good activity prior to midnight, as the constellation of Gemini is well placed from (10 p.m.) onward. The Geminids are often bright and intensely colored.”

RELATED: The best places to watch meteor showers around Colorado

While most meteors come from comets, the Geminids originate from an asteroid that may be the remains of a dead comet.  In either case, they appear as shooting stars as they enter and burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. Asteroids are basically rocks orbiting the sun, but comets are very different.

“Comets are frozen leftovers from the formation of the solar system composed of dust, rock and ices,” according to the definition on a NASA website. “They range from a few miles to tens of miles wide, but as they orbit closer to the sun, they heat up and spew gases and dust into a glowing head that can be larger (in appearance) than a planet. This material forms a tail that stretches millions of miles.”

Here are some tips from NASA for viewing the Geminids:

• “The Geminids are best viewed during the night and predawn hours and are visible across the globe due to a nearly 24-hour broad maximum. This shower is considered one of the best opportunities for young viewers, since this shower starts around 9 or 10 p.m.
• “To view the Geminids, find an area well away from city or street lights.
• “Come prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair.
• “Lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible. After about 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors.
• “Be patient — the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.

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