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Sky watchers who have missed the other meteor showers that occurred in 2020 have another chance with the Geminid meteor shower underway. The Geminid meteor shower began on December 4 and, at its peak, viewers can see more than 100 shooting stars per hour. What makes the meteor shower even more intriguing is that you don’t have to wake up before sunrise to see the shower at its most active.
The American Meteor Society says the Geminids will provide “good activity before midnight, as the constellation Gemini is well placed from 10pm onwards.” The constellation Gemini is the area of the sky where the meteor shower appears to originate. Meteorites can appear from almost anywhere in the night sky, but will typically be seen moving away from Gemini.
The meteor shower started on Friday, December 4, but will peak on Sunday, December 13 and Monday, December 14. At its peak, under ideal conditions, sky watchers can see up to 150 meteors per hour. This year could be particularly good for sky watchers, as the moon will be very small in the sky, and December 14 will be a new moon.
As with any observation of the sky, it is best to move to a dark area with little light pollution. Observers can expect various types of meteorites, including some fireballs, brightly colored stripes, and dimmer “shooting stars.”
Anyone curious about the origins of the Geminid meteor shower, it is caused by the remains of a “rock comet” known as the 3200 Phaethon. Interestingly, 3200 Phaethon could be extinct. It is a comet that roamed the interior of the solar system. While scientists aren’t sure the comet itself is still there, the meteor shower it left behind is one of the best of the year.
