Geminid shooting stars light up the night sky

Photo: depositphotos

The Earth is currently passing through a trail of debris thrown up by the blue asteroid 3200 Phaethon, providing a spectacular spectacle of shooting stars. The shower is active from December 4th to 20th each year. At its peak, up to 150 meteors can be seen per hour. NASA estimates that around the peak of activity, forty to fifty meteors per hour may be visible.

Shooting stars occur when pieces of space debris ranging in size from a grain of sand to a small asteroid collide with Earth at tens of thousands of miles per hour. They then burn up, providing a fiery spectacle visible to the naked eye.

The Geminids will appear as reflections from a patch of sky in the constellation Gemini near the star Castor, which can be seen rising above the eastern horizon a few hours after sunset in December and September to the upper right of Jupiter.

The shooting stars of the Geminid meteor shower have a yellowish appearance and can be seen when the radiant is above the horizon. However, you have the best chance of seeing them at the peak of activity in a perfectly dark moonless sky after 10 p.m.

You can use astronomy apps for smartphones to help you spot Castor. Look for Castor, which is about magnitude 1.58, and aim for a section of sky about 40 degrees above it. This is where the meteor trails will be longest as they pass through Earth's atmosphere.

For optimal viewing, you need to find a place without light pollution. Ideally, away from built-up areas, and then allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for twenty to thirty minutes. A red flashlight can also be a good helper to help you maintain your night vision.

Source: space.com, Editorial Weathersunshine.com