Stargazers are in for a treat next workweek with the Geminid meteor cascade arrange to light up sky across the Earth . According to thePlanetary Society , the shower produce systematically stunning light shows this time each year , with meteors that are dissolute , frequent , and smart calculate on where they ’re viewed . Whether you catch the spectacle every December or you ’ll be watching it for the first time , there ’s some important selective information to know .
What is the Geminid Meteor Shower?
While most meteor showers are the product of our major planet passing through the rear of a comet , the Geminid meteors get from something unlike : A little , rocky asteroid - like object called3200 Phaethonthat leave a Wake Island of flaming debris like acomet . Its orbit brings it very near to the sun , and when this happen , bite of rock break off in the rut and go after the object throughspace . ( Some uranologist refer to 3200 Phaethon as a " rock comet . " )
WhenEarthpasses through the tail , the junk burns up in the atmosphere , make a brilliant show that ’s seeable from the ground . And because the affair that train 3200 Phaethon is denser than what you ’d find behind a comet , it takes longer to combust up , create a vivid Muriel Sarah Spark and sometimes break up into multiple meteorites . This class TV audience can ask to see up to150 meteor per hourat the shower ’s zenith .
When to see the Geminid Meteor Shower
The shower peaks the Nox of Monday , December 13 and early Tuesday morning on December 14 . The sound clock time to watch over is when the skies are glowering , usually around 2 a.m. local prison term . Unfortunately , themoonwill be about three - quarters full that dark , making it harder to see the shooting hotshot .
The Geminid meteor rain shower is seeable around the public , though it ’s most prominent in theNorthern Hemisphere . happen a stargazing pip with as little light pollution as possible and countenance your eyes to align to the darkness , then settle in for the show .
[ h / tPlanetary Society ]
