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Get ready for an explosion of sky confetti geminid meteor shower It is at its peak on the night of 13 December to 14 December. Renowned as one of the most reliable and prolific annual astronomical events, the Geminids can provide a dazzling display, sometimes offering 60 to 120 meteors per hour in ideal, dark conditions.
Viewing conditions are favorable this year. The peak of the rainfall occurs just after the last quarter moon on December 11, meaning only a waning crescent will be present, as reported space,
Typically, Geminids support the general trend: unlike most meteor shower Visible on Earth, they originate from icy comets, which are debris ejected from an asteroid.
The parent body is known as 3200 Phaethon, a strange, blue space rock that behaves like a comet, shedding a stream of particles as it orbits the Sun every 1.4 years. Scientists believe that Phaethon may have suffered a massive collision in the distant past, generating the vast trail of cosmic dust that Earth passes through each year.
When our planet intercepts this debris field, “asteroid fragments,” they heat up as they enter the atmosphere, creating spectacular bursts of light we call meteors.
The documented history of the shower goes back approximately 200 years, with the first sighting occurring on a riverbank on the Mississippi River in 1833.
Geminid meteor shower: where and when to see
While the Geminid meteors are best visible from the Northern Hemisphere, they can also be reliably seen from the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteorites are named after the constellation from which they appear to radiate, a point known as the radiant. The Geminids appear to originate from the direction of the Gemini constellation.
Geminid Meteor Shower: Tips for Watching
To maximize your chances of seeing the entire spectacle, follow these steps:
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