Geminids
The Geminids are a meteor shower caused by an object named 3200 Phaethon, which is thought to be an extinct comet. The meteors from this shower can seen in mid-December and usually peak around 12-14 December.
Geminids
Related Category: Astronomy: General
see meteor shower.
More on Geminids
Meteor Shower - increase in the number of meteors observed in a particular part of the sky.
Observing the Geminids in December
Chart showing the sky surrounding the radiant of the Geminids.
The Geminid Meteor shower is one of the most active of the year, sometimes surpassed only by the Perseids in intensity.
Geminids
December 7-15
Note that one of the best meteor showers, the Perseids, happens in August. "Peak time" is when you are likely to see the largest number of meteors per hour. It occurs in the middle of August can be quite spectacular to see! ...
The Geminids next month are always sure to delight, producing about 50 meteors per hour, centered around the constellation Gemini. They are also predicted to put on a spectacular show this year.
The Geminids are a meteor shower that occur each year from Dec. 6-19, with a maximum on Dec. 13-14.
December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the best meteor shower in the heavens, the Geminids are known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak.
One of the most prominent meteor showers radiates from this constellation (from the region around Castor), the geminids. They peak on december 13th and 14th.
The meteor shower rho geminids are visible from end of december to the end of january.
There are about eight "shooting stars" per hour every night, but your chances improve considerably during major meteor showers, such as the Perseids and Geminids. The Perseids peak the evening of Aug. 11 and the Geminids the evening of Dec. 13.
The orbits of 3200 Phaeton and the Geminids also are unlike those of comets in that their aphelia are at 2.4 AU, well within the orbit of Jupiter.
RADIANT
A radiant is the point in the sky from which a meteor shower seems to be coming. For example, the Geminids meteor shower seems to come from the constellation Gemini.
Leonids, 14-20 November, Star Region: Zeta Leonis
Andromedids, 26 November-4 December, Star Region: Gamma Andromedae
Geminids, 9-13 December, Star Region: Castor
Ursids, 20-22 December, Star Region: Kocab ...
 See also: Meteor, Gemini, Meteor shower, Sky, Earth
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