The colors produced by the Geminids are among the most beautiful. However, they will help in observing the greater numbers of meteors, and their colors will appear more vividly. Optical aids such as telescopes or binoculars aren’t really necessary for vieweing the Geminids. However, they gain strength between midnight and dawn, peaking at about 2 am. Under the right conditions, the Geminids can be viewed much earlier than other meteor showers at around 9 pm. This zodiacal constellation has two parallel lines of stars representing the famous twins from Greek mythology, Pollux, and Castor. If you want to observe the Geminids, locate the constellation of Gemini by finding Orion, and then follow a line north through the stars Rigel and Betelgeuse.

They can reach deeper and burn lower in Earth’s atmosphere than many other meteor storms, creating fantastic long arcs that can last for up to two seconds. The Geminids are among the few meteor showers that can be seen from both the northern and southern hemispheres. The Geminids can be viewed from everywhere Some observers have noted that the Geminids appear to move more slowly than other meteors. Recent estimates suggest that the asteroid will make its closest approach in 2093, passing within 3 million km / 1.8 million mi by Earth. It is believed that when Phaeton was young, it got caught in Saturn’s orbit and now passes by the Earth every year, leaving behind its debris trail. This meteor shower is unique in the solar system because most meteor showers are associated with active comets, while the Palladian asteroid 3200 Phanteon causes the Geminids. Most of these meteors enter and are incinerated in Earth’s atmosphere, producing the beautiful Geminids Meteor shower.

But they are caused by Earth’s crossing through the dusty trail of the 3200 Pantheon asteroid. Meteors during this event seem to radiate from the constellation of Gemini, hence the name. The Geminids are named after the constellation of Gemini Some have recorded as many as 120-160 meteors per hour during the event. However, recent observations suggest that each year the intensity of the Geminids seems to be increasing. It usually occurs through December, beginning around the 7 th of December and peaks on the 13 th/14 th.ĭuring its peak, around 50-80 meteors can be seen per hour. In the case of the Geminid meteor shower, its origin is the 3200 Phanteon asteroid. The debris of comets causes most meteor showers. The Geminid Meteor Shower Occurs In December As such, if you want to find out more about the Geminid meteor shower, here are some facts. The Geminid meteor shower is among the most famous of these celestial events.įinding any type of meteor on Earth is rare, but if you are lucky enough, many scientists offer significant sums per meteor gram.

These events happen all the time, though there are certain times when they can be best seen or when certain meteor showers occur. Our planet moves through these debris trails, and as such, meteor showers occur. Usually, meteor showers are caused by debris from comets. They are usually named for the constellation in which their radiant appears. When several meteors flash or seem to radiate from the same point in the sky, it is called a meteor shower.

Meteoroid gemini