How to catch the Geminids meteor
Known for their yellowish glow, the Geminids owe their distinct appearance to their unusual source material, explained Sally Brummel, planetarium manager at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum. The shower is typically among the year’s most impressive, offering a high number of meteors per hour under ideal conditions. However, this year’s nearly full moon will limit visibility to about 15 meteors per hour during the peak, according to the American Meteor Society.
“The moonlight will wash out a lot of them," Brummel noted.
The Geminids will remain visible until December 21. Here’s a closer look at the phenomenon and how to experience it:
What is a meteor shower?
Meteor showers occur several times a year and don’t require special equipment to observe. Most showers originate from debris left by comets, but the Geminids are an exception—they come from asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
When space debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, the intense friction with the air heats it up, causing the surrounding air to glow. This creates the streaks of light often called “shooting stars.”
The rocky debris from asteroids like 3200 Phaethon makes the Geminids particularly prone to producing fireballs, according to NASA expert William Cooke. “Those are pretty tough rocks that can penetrate deep into the atmosphere,” he said.
Tips for Viewing the Geminids
Meteor showers are best observed between midnight and dawn, under clear, dark skies far from city lights. The fewer clouds and the dimmer the moon, the more meteors you’ll see.
To maximize visibility, avoid looking at your phone or other bright lights, which can affect your night vision.
When is the next meteor shower?
The next celestial display, the Ursids, will peak on December 22.
No Comment to " How to catch the Geminids meteor "