The Geminids asteroid shower begins this week and, if conditions are good, sky lovers can enjoy about 120 stars per hour.
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The annual Geminids asteroid shower has been active since late November and will reach its absolute peak Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday morning.
According to NASA, the Geminids are considered one of the best and most reliable meteor showers of the year. Under ideal conditions – clear weather and away from bright lights – stargazers can see more than one meteor every minute streaking across the night sky.
This year, according to NASA, there will be minimal light from the moon that will affect the colorful spectacle of the sky.
Geminids are known for being bright and fast meteors, often appearing yellow or white in color, although they can also be green, red, and even blue.
“Most meteors appear colorless or white, but the Geminids also appear with a greenish tinge. They are very beautiful meteors!” said Bill Cooke, chief of the Meteorite Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
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Shooting stars can be seen anywhere in the world and are best viewed at night and in the early morning hours before sunrise. The meteors will appear to emerge from the constellation Gemini, which will rise in the northeastern sky.
According to NASA's recommendation, for optimal viewing of asteroids, it is recommended to face south. The most favorable viewing point would be away from city lights and other sources of light pollution, allowing for an unobstructed view of the night sky.
It's also best to give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. The meteors will start to become visible around 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. local time, but skywatchers who go out even later — between midnight and 2 a.m. — may have a chance to enjoy an even more spectacular sky spectacle. For people in the Northern Hemisphere, that will likely mean dressing warmly and preparing for cold winter conditions.
Meteors occur when Earth passes through large clouds of debris left behind by comets or asteroids. As these particles hit the planet 's atmosphere , they vaporize and appear as fast rays of light streaking across the sky.
The Geminids come from the remains of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, which takes 524 days to orbit the Sun.The small, stony space rock, which is about 3.2 miles in diameter, was first discovered in 1983.
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Although the Geminids peak is this week, the asteroid shower will remain active until December 24, according to NASA.
Source: NBC News
