Topline
A meteor shower considered by NASA as the “best and most reliable” annual event will peak in activity later this week in one of the last waves of meteors to pass over Earth this year, featuring yellow and green tones across the night sky.
The meteor shower, considered by NASA as the “most reliable” annual shower, tends to release green … [+]
Key Facts
The Geminids have been active since Dec. 2 and will continue through Dec. 21, though the meteor shower will peak between Dec. 12 and Dec. 13, with up to 120 meteors seen per hour, according to the American Meteor Shower.
The meteor shower is caused by debris from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and peaks each year in December, showcasing “bright and fast” meteors that tend to be yellow or green, depending on the chemical composition—oxygen, magnesium and nickel produce greenish hues—of each piece of debris, according to NASA.
It’s not immediately clear whether Phaethon—first discovered in October 1983—is an asteroid, a “dead comet” or a “rock comet,” NASA said, as the object doesn’t develop a tail when passing by the sun and it creates debris several times denser than average.
The Geminids first appeared in the mid-1800s, though they weren’t as active until recent decades, NASA said, as Phaethon’s orbit around the sun traveled closer to the Earth’s atmosphere.
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What’s The Best Way To See The Meteor Shower?
Geminid meteors have an average velocity of 21 miles per second and appear in larger numbers than the average shower, though they often don’t produce tails, according to the American Meteor Society. NASA recommends traveling to an area away from light pollution, lying flat on your back with your feet facing south, allowing your eyes to adjust for about 30 minutes before they can see meteors. The Geminid meteor shower will last until dawn and meteors can be seen across the entire sky, the agency noted.
When Can I See The Meteor Shower?
The best time to see the Geminid meteor shower is between 9 and 10 p.m. local time, though they will likely continue into the early morning, according to NASA.
Key Background
The Geminid meteor shower is one of nine annual meteor showers featuring the most activity in the night sky. From Earth’s perspective, the Geminids—like other showers and their namesakes—appear to originate in the direction of the Gemini constellation, located northeast of the Orion constellation and between the Taurus and Cancer constellations. The Gemini constellation is marked by two bright stars that represent the head of the Gemini twins. This shower precedes the Quadrantids, which are projected to start on Dec. 26 and continue through Jan. 16, according to the American Meteor Society.
