The meteor shower tonight promises to be the best observed this year when the Geminids reach their peak. The Geminids are known to offer an entertaining show that lights up the sky more than other regular meteor showers. The Geminids are unique in several aspects, including their origin from a passing asteroid.
The Geminids meteor shower could be something tonight you should search for
After midnight will be the very best time to look at the Geminids meteor shower. You might see a ton of meteors each hour. Up to 120 meteors per hour could be observed during the shower. There’s a reason why the shower has been called the Geminids. Near the constellation Gemini, called the "radiant," you’ll see most of the shooting stars. Meteors in the Geminids shower could be seen earlier than most other meteor showers because the Geminids radiant is above the horizon throughout the night. Look low within the northeast within the early on evening. By 1 a.m. EST the radiant is directly overhead. The Geminids will hit their peak at about 6 a.m. EST when the radiant is low within the west.
A difference observed with the Geminids
The Perseids in August and the Leonids in November are more like regular meteor showers that take place when the Earth is in its orbit around the sun. All the dust particles a comet leaves behind are exactly what the Earth is going through. The Geminids, however, are specks of particles left behind by the asteroid Phaethon. When compared to other meteor showers, the rate at which the Phaethon's debris hits the earth is quite slow. It only goes about 21 miles per second typically. The particles vaporize slower meaning there’s a bright trail in the sky a bit longer than normal. That is why it is so easy to view the Geminid meteors. Any meteor watchers will get to see the Geminids Wed before dawn if Tuesday is ruined with clouds because the Geminids will continue until the early morning of Dec. 15.
Why are the Geminids here?
The asteroid Phaethon is appropriately named after the son of Helios, the sun god in Greek mythology. Phaethon goes for a joyride in his father’s sun chariot, loses control and threatens to burn up the Earth. The world is saved as Zeus kills Phaethon with a lightening bold. In 524 days, Phaethon's orbit goes from the asteroid belt inside Mercury's orbit and back again. Experts have no idea why a stream of particles come off of Phaethon since it has no tail like a comet would.
Info from
MSNBC
msnbc.msn.com/id/40530733/ns/technology_and_science-space/
The Guardian
guardian.co.uk/science/2010/dec/13/starwatch-geminids-meteors
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pha%C3%ABton
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