Geminid meteor shower this weekend: Here’s how to see the show
Get ready, sky watchers -- it’s time for the Geminids, one of the best meteor showers of the year.
The Geminid meteor shower occurs each December, when Earth passes through a river of debris left in the wake of an object known as Phaethon 3200.
This year the Geminids, so named because the meteors emanate from a part of the sky in the constellation Gemini, will peak on Sunday and Monday nights. The moon will be a waxing crescent, so the sky will be dark -- excellent for meteor-watching.
If you look for meteors in the early evening just after the sun sets, you might spot what are known as “Earth grazers.” These are long, dramatic streaks of light that linger in the sky for a few seconds.
Later in the evening, after 10 p.m. local time no matter where you live, the light trails on the meteors will be shorter, but they should be more prolific.
In ideal conditions it is theoretically possible to see up to 120 meteors per hour, according to the Royal Astronomy Society. But don’t count on it. The astronomers at Sky and Telescope say that one meteor per minute is a more likely rate, if you have access to a very dark sky.
However, even those of us living in severely light-polluted cities like Los Angeles have a chance to see a few Geminids without leaving home. The brightest should shine with enough light to be visible in our not-so-dark night sky.
Most meteor showers occur when the Earth slams into the trail of dust left in the wake of a comet. But the Geminids’ source, Phaethon 3200, looks more like a small asteroid than a comet, with a long tail of gas and dust.
Phaethon 3200 is just three miles across, and it orbits the sun once every 1.4 years. That orbit takes it closer to our life-giving star than any other known asteroid. Scientists have suggested that when this body makes its closest approach to the sun, the solar heat scorches the dusty debris right off its rocky surface causing a gravel tail to form behind it.
When these bits of gravel slam into Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up and cause the air around them to super-heat. This creates a streak of light, or a “shooting star.”
The best way to see the Geminids, or any meteor shower, is to get yourself to the darkest sky you can find. You’ll probably want to lie on your back, since you are going to be looking up for a while. Have lots of warm clothes and blankets with you and give your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the low light. Try to refrain from glancing at your cellphone; it will ruin your night vision.
Then just sit back, relax and enjoy nature’s winter fireworks.
Happy sky watching!
If meteor showers make you go “ahhh!” follow me @DeborahNetburn and “like” Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.
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