Year’s brightest meteor shower, Geminids, peaks tonight

Bright Geminid meteors may be dimmed by moonlight, but still a must-see this week.

Listen to article

The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most intense of the year, is set to peak tonight, providing skywatchers with one of the final chances to witness fireballs in the night sky this year.

While the Geminids typically offer a spectacular show with high volumes of meteors visible each hour, this year’s display will be somewhat dimmed by the presence of an almost full moon.

https://www.facebook.com/NASA/videos/952857563371234/

According to the American Meteor Society, the peak of the shower is expected to bring around 15 meteors per hour, but the moonlight “will wash out a lot of them,” said Sally Brummel, planetarium manager at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum.

The Geminid meteor shower is distinctive for its bright yellowish meteors, a result of the unusual origin material.

Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comet debris, the Geminids are produced by the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, which orbits the Sun.

When rocks from space enter Earth’s atmosphere, they heat up due to air resistance, creating a fiery tail behind them — the iconic streak of light known as a “shooting star.”

The rocky debris from asteroids also increases the likelihood of fireballs, NASA’s William Cooke explained. “Those are pretty tough rocks that can penetrate deep into the atmosphere,” he added.

The Geminids are expected to remain visible until December 21, offering an opportunity for late-night skywatchers to catch a glimpse of the celestial event.

To improve viewing conditions, experts recommend watching from dark locations away from city lights and ensuring clear skies.

While the Geminids are typically most visible between midnight and the predawn hours, the next meteor shower, the Ursids, will peak on December 22, offering another chance for stargazers to enjoy the spectacle.