The Geminid shower will peak tonight: how and when to watch the brightest star show of December
14 December 2024 01:26
On the night of Saturday, December 14, the Geminid meteor shower will peak. Ukrainians will be able to observe this cosmic phenomenon at 2 am. It is reported by Space.com, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs
It is noted that the Geminids are active from November 19 to December 24 every year. This year, the peak of the meteor shower will coincide with about 90% of the growing moon’s illumination. The full moon will appear on December 15.
Also this year, at the peak of the Geminid shower, up to 150 shooting stars per hour will be visible in the night sky.
Unlike most meteor showers that people see on Earth, the Geminids are the product of an asteroid, not a comet. This stream produces bright meteors associated with the asteroid Phaeton, a strange blue rock that “acts like a comet.”
The Geminids are considered to be one of the best meteor showers each year because its individual meteors are bright and fly very fast.
In total, the Geminid meteor shower is almost 200 years old. Its first recorded sighting took place in 1833 from a boat on the Mississippi River in the United States.
Where and when to see the Geminid meteor shower
The Geminid meteor shower is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere, although residents of the Southern Hemisphere also have a chance to observe this phenomenon. The radiant – the point from which the meteors seem to emanate – is located in the constellation Geminids, which is easy to find in the sky. It is located northeast of the constellation Orion, between Taurus and Cancer. Two of the brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux, will help you identify the right part of the sky.
However, to see the best meteors, you shouldn’t focus on Gemini alone. Meteors that are closer to the radiant have shorter trails, while the longest and brightest meteors can be seen in neighboring constellations.
The best time to observe is around 2:00 am local time, when the radiant is highest in the sky. This year, the brightness of the meteors may be reduced by the moonlight, so you should take into account the time of moonrise and moonset in your area. To do this, you can use special moonrise and moonset calculators.
How to prepare for the observation
No special equipment is needed to observe the Geminids – neither telescopes nor binoculars. The most important thing is to find a place with the least light pollution, away from city lights. Lie on your back, relax and let your eyes adjust to the darkness – it will take about 30 minutes. Avoid using your phone and only turn on the red light of a flashlight if necessary to avoid damaging your night vision.
