The Geminid meteor shower is considered by NASA to be “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers,” with an estimated total of approximately 120 shooting stars during its peak moment.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Not at all; it’s just another meteor shower!
Each year, the Geminid meteor shower is the final meteor shower of 2023. It begins to be active in late November and reaches its peak in the middle of December.
Even though it is extremely uncommon to see a shooting star, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) considers this celestial spectacle to be “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.” The space agency, on the other hand, points out that this wasn’t always the case.
On average, between ten and twenty meteors were observed every hour when the first Geminids were discovered in the middle of the 1800s. Since that time, the Geminid meteor showers have experienced a significant increase; under ideal circumstances, they are capable of producing approximately 120 meteor showers per hour.
For those who are interested in observing the night sky, the likelihood of spotting a meteor this year appears to be quite high. During the peak of the shower, the moon will be in its young waxing crescent phase, which will cause the sky to be dark. The moon will become full on December 26th, which is the last day of the month.
Your guide to the Geminid meteor shower, including information on when the shower is at its peak and how to watch it, is presented here.
When does the Geminid meteor shower peak?
The Gemind meteor shower began to be active on Sunday, November 26, and it is expected to continue shooting through Christmas Eve, which is going to be on Sunday, December 24. On Thursday, December 14, 2023, it is anticipated that the Geminids will reach their peak for this year.
How to view the Geminid meteor shower?
Fortunately for those who are interested in stargazing, expensive space technology or equipment is not required in order to observe Geminids. If you want to have a chance of seeing a shooting star, all you have to do is look up at the night sky like you normally would.
Nevertheless, there are a few suggestions that can assist in making the process a little bit less difficult. First things first, make sure you are outside and away from any sources of light pollution, such as street lamps or illuminated signs.
It is preferable to find a dark location; however, due to the glaring gibbous moon that is waning, there is not much that we here on Earth can do to combat it. As a result, viewers in the Northern Hemisphere are more likely to catch 30 to 40 meteors per hour rather than the 100 to 150 that they would normally see.
However, keep in mind that the Geminids are known for their brightness, so skywatchers are in for a good show regardless of the circumstances!
Where does the Geminid meteor shower appear in the sky?
Meteors are the result of comet debris and fragments extracted from asteroids that have been left behind. The dusty trail that these objects leave behind is caused by the fact that they approach the sun more closely. All through the year, these particles come into contact with the atmosphere of the Earth, and as they do so, they disintegrate, resulting in the formation of colorful streaks in the sky.
Many people have the tendency to believe that meteor showers originate from their “radiant,” which is the point in the sky from which the stars appear to shoot out. However, comets are the true point of origin behind meteor showers. For the Geminids, the radiant corresponds to the constellation Gemini, also known as the “Twins.”
Because of this, it is reasonable to begin by looking in the direction of Gemini; however, this is not the only place where you should be directing your gaze. According to Bill Cooke from NASA, “meteors close to the radiant have very short trails and are easily missed, so observers should avoid looking at that constellation.”
In order to improve your chances of spotting a star, it is recommended that you lie down on the ground, adjust your eyes to the dark sky, and simply take in the tremendousness of the sky.
What meteor shower comes after the Geminids?
Immediately following the Geminid meteor shower, the Ursids are the next meteor shower to become active. From the 13th of December until the 24th of December, 2023, they are active, reaching their peak between the 21st and 22nd of December.
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