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This year might be almost over, but there are still astronomical shows to watch. This month’s meteor shower is the Geminids, which has already started producing bright meteors on the night sky on December 4th. These will remain visible up until December 14th, but the peak of the event will occur in the night between December 13th and December 14th.
The Geminids, one of the brightest meteor showers
The setting is perfect to offer us a spectacular show. When the Geminids will reach their peak, the night sky will appear particularly dark. The moon will be barely visible, as it will only be in the early stages of the crescent, while Jupiter will be situated somewhere south of this moon.
The Geminids, just as their name says, come from the constellation of Gemini. The meteors should appear everywhere in the sky but, if you want to make sure you get the best view, it’s better to look south of the constellation. Also, it doesn’t matter where you live, as the shower should be visible anywhere.
This meteor shower is slightly different from the others
Usually, meteor showers are produced when the traces left by comets light up when getting close to Earth. This time, the Geminids are made up of asteroid debris. Once every 1.4 years, the asteroid 3200 Phaeton comes close to Earth. Each time, it leaves a trail of space junk behind. Every year, our planet passes through this field of debris, and the ice and rock pieces light up whenever they enter our atmosphere.
The best moment of the night to view the Geminids is before dawn, but you can get a beautiful view of them any time after midnight. This meteor shower is one of the most active of the year, so you should get some of the most beautiful pictures of the year. Make sure you choose a place in the rural area, or where there aren’t many artificial light sources to disturb you, and enjoy the show.
Image Source: Flickr
