December is the most active month for meteor showers, and this year’s celestial show is already in full swing. The Geminid meteor shower is typically the strongest meteor shower of the year, starting on December 2nd, but reaching its peak activity on the nights of December 12th and 13th. Fortunately, they will remain visible until December 21st, giving stargazers plenty of time to witness the meteor shower.
Under ideal conditions, observers could potentially see up to 150 meteors per hour during the peak of the Geminid meteor shower. However, this year’s peak coincides with nearly a full moon, which will dim many meteors and make them harder to spot. Nonetheless, there is still hope: if the sky is clear and visibility is good, you can face away from the moon to maximize your chances of spotting bright meteors.
Meteor showers are named after the constellations from which they appear to originate, known as their “radiant point” in the sky. For the Geminid meteor shower, this means the direction of the constellation Gemini located northeast of Orion. Gemini is easily identified by its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux. While the radiant point provides a reference, meteors can streak across the entire sky. For the best viewing experience, it’s recommended to observe the expansive sky rather than focus solely on Gemini.
For the optimal experience, find a location without light pollution. While no special equipment is needed, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 30 minutes and avoid looking at your phone or any other bright lights. If you must have light, use red light to help your eyes adapt to the dark. To enhance the experience, aim to head out around 2 am local time when the radiant point of the meteor shower is highest in the sky.
The Geminid meteor shower is unique among meteor showers as it originates from an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, rather than a comet. This asteroid is sometimes referred to as a “rock comet” because its behavior near the Sun resembles that of a comet, shedding debris and producing vibrant meteor showers. As Earth crosses its orbit, particles rapidly enter the atmosphere, burning up and creating the distinctive streaks and occasional fireballs of the Geminid meteor shower.
In 1833, observers along the Mississippi River first documented the Geminid meteor shower. Over time, the shower has grown stronger, attributed to gravitational influences from planets, particularly Jupiter, bringing the particle stream closer to Earth’s orbit.
But wait, December’s meteor showers don’t end there!
Coinciding with the Geminid meteor shower is another meteor shower, the Ursid meteor shower, which will appear on December 16th, peaking on December 21st and 22nd right before Christmas, and continuing until December 26th.
The Ursid meteor shower is not as well-known as it does not feature a high number of meteors, with only 5 to 10 visible per hour during its peak. Their radiant point surrounds Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper), with the most famous star being Polaris, also known as the North Star or Pole Star. Like other meteor showers, directly observing the radiant point isn’t the best option—it’s better to scan the sky around the constellation where longer streaks are more likely to be found.
The North Star, Polaris, stands high in the sky before dawn, making it the prime time to watch this meteor shower.
Following the Ursid meteor shower, the Quadrantid meteor shower will emerge, starting from December 26th and lasting until mid-January next year. These meteors typically produce bright fireballs, potentially putting on one of the most spectacular celestial shows of the year. Unfortunately, their peak only lasts for about 6 hours, often limiting their fame.
The Quadrantid meteor shower gets its name from the Mural Quadrant constellation, now an obsolete constellation not included in current official sky maps. Today, their radiant point can be found beneath the Big Dipper, but like other meteor showers, meteors can be seen throughout the sky. This time, their peak will occur in the late night of January 3rd and early morning of January 4th, around 1 am Eastern Standard Time. The moon will be a waxing crescent, so its light should not hinder visibility of the meteors.
So, get your reclining chair ready, grab a cup of hot beverage and a warm jacket, look up, and enjoy the universe welcoming the New Year!
The original article “Look Up! The Skies Bid Farewell to 2024 With Three Meteor Showers in December” was published on the English Epoch Times website.