**** Info via Environment Canada
Geminid Meteor Shower
For the night sky enthusiasts, the Geminid meteor shower will peak on the night of December 13 to 14. The Geminid has been visible this year since November 10 and will last until December 24.
At its peak, we can usually start sighting Geminid meteors as early as 9 P.M. until the morning hours of the next day, with a peak around 2 A.M. This year, the Moon will be almost full during peak viewing time, but we should still be able to see many meteors, as the brightest ones overcome the Moon light.
The Geminid is considered one of the best meteor showers of the year because the meteors are bright, and there are many of them!
The mystery of asteroid 3200 Phaethon
Unlike other meteor showers that come from comets, the Geminid meteor shower comes from what seems to be an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. When a comet passes near the Sun, the ices below its surface are heated and vaporized into space. It is the bright tail created by the ices vaporized into gas that we see. While comets contain ices, asteroids are mainly rock and not known for producing such majestic displays.
So why is Asteroid 3200 Phaeton behaving like a comet despite lacking significant quantities of ice? Many theories have been put forward trying to explain that unique meteor shower. The latest came from a NASA study exploring the theory that sodium inside Phaeton is heated as it orbits the Sun. The asteroid could then be venting sodium vapour, which would explain its increase in brightness.
This illustration depicts asteroid Phaethon being heated by the Sun. The asteroid’s surface gets so hot that sodium inside Phaethon’s rock may vaporize and vent into space, causing it to brighten like a comet and dislodge small pieces of rocky debris. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC.
The Geminid meteors also move more slowly than other meteors, such as the Perseids, which makes viewing much easier.
How to observe these shooting stars
The best way to see the meteor shower is to move as far away as possible from the city or street lights. Remember to keep all electronic lights off. Note: it takes roughly 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the night sky fully. And dress warmily!
Visit our astronomy website to get access to up-to-date meteorological forecasts to determine the best time to plan your sky observation activities.
