Here's how to watch the Geminid meteor shower

The Geminid meteor shower begins Sunday, Dec. 4, and will bring a dazzling astronomical display throughout Dec. 16.

The Geminids "are typically one of the best and most reliable of the annual meteor showers," according to NASA. The Geminids have a peak activity meteor count of 120 meteors per hour, and a meteor velocity of 22 miles per second.

This meteor shower is also one of the best opportunities for children to see shooting stars, since it begins earlier in the night around 9 or 10 p.m.

To get the most out of your Geminids-viewing experience, NASA suggests you find an area away from city and street lights, bring clothing to keep you comfortable in colder winter weather, and also bring something comfortable to sit or lie down on.

While binoculars and telescopes are usually helpful in seeing the night sky, NASA suggests you leave these at home when watching meteor showers. "Using either reduces the amount of sky you can see at one time, lowering the odds that you'll see anything but darkness. Instead, let your eyes hang loose and don't look in any one specific spot Relaxed eyes will quickly zone in on any movement up above, and you'll be able to spot more meteors.what"

If you do need to use a light get around in the dark, NASA suggests to use a red light, as cell phones and other light sources impair night vision. "Some flashlights have handy interchangeable filters. If you don't have one of those, you can always paint the clear filter with red fingernail polish."

The Geminids won't peak until Dec. 13 or 14, but there is also a full moon early December 14, which NASA says "will outshine the shower in 2016." So don't wait too late to catch a glimpse of the dazzling astronomical display.