Already visible in the nightsky, the annual Geminid Meteor Shower will grow brighter and clearer over the next few days, adding another spectacular to the Christmas season. The UK’s Met Office says they peak during the 13th or 14 days of December. There will be 50 meteors whizzing across sky at speeds of over 100 an hour, according to UK. The trail of debris from 3200 Phatheon is being followed by Earth once more. This was an Apollo asteroid that had an unusual orbit and was found on 11 by Infrared Astronomical satellite. Contrary to other comet showers, the Genimid Meteor Shower is not from a comet. They are much more visible with naked eyes because they have a very rough and rocky surface. This skyscape captured many spectacular shooting stars of Gemini and was taken near its peak, in the early morning of December HTML1. This careful compilation of exposures was taken over a three-hour period, looking out at the Dashanbao Wetlands in central China. (Image: apod.nasa.gov. Credit to Jeff Dai. The Geminids are a favorite among amateur astronomers because they streak across sky at about 22 mile km per second each year. This is about as frequent as clockwork. According to scientists, the shower intensifies each year. Easy to spot the Geminid Meteor shower. All you need to do to catch them is to look up. To catch the meteor shower, you don’t need to find the Gemini constellation. The meteors will appear brightly across the sky, so even though they start at Gemini constellation, it is not difficult to spot them. They can be seen almost anywhere in the night sky and are often yellowish-colored. Astronomers claim they have an unusual appearance. You will only need warm clothing, possibly a hot beverage, clear skies, and eyes. The Met Office states that the Geminid meteor Shower will be the most important event on the 2015. meteor shower calendar. It starts on December 4th and ends on December 8th. To see the Geminids at their best, you should be able to observe them between sunset and sunrise. Stargazers must look for clear skies in order to catch a glimpse. It is best to avoid light pollution. NASA predicts that the Geminids peak during daylight on thDecember. You will enjoy an entertaining spectacle from 9 pm to 10 midnight the night before. In the middle -1800s the Geminids began to appear. At the time, they were relatively small events with only ten to twenty meteors per hour. They have become one the largest showers in the year. Along with the Quadrantids and the Geminid Meteor Shower, this shower is the only one that comes from an atseroid. The rest are comet-generated. Image: Metoffice.gov.uk Geminid Meteor Shower Viewing Tips They can be seen across the globe due to their nearly hour broad maximum. This is a great opportunity for budding astronomers as it begins at 9:0_ PM. Photo of the Geminid fireball that explodes over the Mojave desert in 2009. (Image: science.nasa.gov Credit to Wally Pacholka/AstroPics.com/TWAN). For best results, choose an area away from cities and street lights. NASA recommends that people look upwards, with their feet facing the south. Your eyes will adjust after 30 minutes of darkness and you’ll start to see meteors. Scientists believe that the Geminids are the largest of all debris streams Earth encounters every year while it orbits around the sun. The Geminid stream is 5 times more than other streams when we combine it with 500.. Met Office Video – Geminid Meteor Shower
An annual Geminid Meteor Shower builds up in the nightsky
