abcnews.go.com
Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks With Reduced Visibility Due to Bright Moon
The Geminid meteor shower, originating from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, peaks on December 14 with an expected 15 meteors per hour due to a nearly full moon, offering less visibility than usual but still showcasing fireballs from the rocky debris.
English
United States
OtherScienceSpaceAstronomyMeteor ShowerGeminid Meteor Shower
American Meteor SocietyNasaUniversity Of Minnesota's Bell Museum
Sally BrummelWilliam Cooke
- How might factors like lunar cycles and atmospheric conditions affect the visibility of future Geminid meteor showers?
- The reduced visibility of the Geminids this year, caused by the bright moonlight, highlights the impact of lunar cycles on meteor shower viewing. Future Geminid showers might offer better viewing conditions depending on the moon phase and the amount of atmospheric dust and cloud cover. The next shower, the Ursids, peaks on December 22.
- What distinguishes the Geminids from most other meteor showers, and how does this affect the visibility of the meteors?
- Unlike most meteor showers originating from comet debris, the Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. This asteroid's rocky debris creates fireballs that penetrate Earth's atmosphere deeply, resulting in brighter, more visible meteors. However, the nearly full moon this year will reduce visibility.
- What is the expected hourly meteor count for the Geminid meteor shower peak, and what factor primarily influences this number?
- The Geminid meteor shower, peaking on December 14, is expected to produce up to 15 meteors per hour due to a nearly full moon. This is significantly less than in years with a darker sky. The shower originates from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, making it unusual among meteor showers that typically stem from comets.