By Dr. Lisa Will, Resident Astronomer of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center The peak of the Geminid meteor shower occurs this weekend on the nights of December 13 and 14. Sometimes, the most interesting discussions occur over a beer or a glass of your favorite vino. The asteroid 3200 Phaethon is responsible for this meteor shower, which is unusual because comets usually create meteor showers with icy debris. So consider watching past the peak dates, and especially after Aug. 17, when moonless skies prevail, according to Earthsky.org. For those in the suburbs, expect about 30 to 40 per hour. The other thing required for successful meteor watching is patience. WASHINGTON– The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week, so hope for clear skies that will let you see a beautiful show of green fireballs on Thursday and Friday. In San Diego County, some good options include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Palomar Mountain Observatory Campground. The Delta Aquarids are not as prolific as the Perseids, but up to 10 percent of them leave persistent trains — that is, glowing ionized gas trails that can last for a second or two after the meteor passes. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. And, Cooke advises, avoid looking at your phone while you're waiting to see a shooting star. The rambling Delta Aquarid meteor shower continues through mid-month, so you may see a few of those, too. Phaethon orbits the sun closer than any other asteroid and takes 1.4 years to orbit it. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look straight up. NASA's Cooke told Space.com meteor shower watching requires an investment in preparation and time, but is "the simplest form of astronomy there is.". This phenomenon was first recorded in 1862 and causes a show each December. ET, predicts Sky & Telescope. This is the one major shower that provides good activity prior to midnight as the constellation of Gemini is well placed from 22:00 onward. UPDATE: Until further notice, The Sky Tonight will be moving into the digital space. These particles cause the meteor shower when they plunge into Earth’s atmosphere at 22 miles per second, vaporizing in the streaks we call “shooting stars.”. All rights reserved. BATON ROUGE, La. Find an open area with a wide view of the sky, and don’t forget to bundle up. Support science in San Diego. The Geminid Meteor Shower, one of the year's two most regularly active showers, peaks on the evening of Sunday, December 13 through the morning of the 14th. Tiny bits of ice and dust from these objects hit the Earth’s atmosphere, causing a streak of light across the sky—a meteor! Because the Earth crosses these comets and asteroid orbits at the same time every year, we can predict the nights when you are most likely to observe meteors. The Geminid meteor shower peaks tomorrow morning (4am PST), so hope for clear skies that will let you see a beautiful show of green fireballs on Thursday and Friday. But the morning isn’t your only chance. View All Showtimes, Permanent Exhibitions As a result, Comet Swift-Tuttle produces a large number of meteoroids, many of which are large enough to produce fireballs," he wrote for NASA. Although the Geminid shower is known for its “shooting stars,” the number of meteors visible depends on the time and how dark it is. Get an overview of all the shows The Fleet has to offer. "You know, that's something about meteor observing: You let your eyes adapt to the dark, and what kills [meteor viewing for] most people nowadays is that they'll look at their phones, and that bright screen just totally trashes your night vision," Cooke said. Gemini rises in the eastern sky by 9 p.m. and your chances of seeing a meteor improve as the constellation gets higher in the sky. REGISTER TODAY! The meteors will be more visible. Showtimes In the hours before sunrise Friday, the most meteors will be visible in the North American sky, peaking about 7:30 a.m. The Geminids will peak the night of December 13 through the early morning of December 14. If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that isn’t littered with city lights that will obstruct your view. The closely tracked near-Earth asteroid has been likened to comets, so it’s been called a “rock comet.”. Price: Thanks to MacGillivray Freeman Films, you can now enjoy Dream Big, National Parks Adventure and America's Musical Journey online! The best time to spot Geminids is after midnight, with the maximum number of meteors peaking around 2 a.m. Luckily, there won’t a bright Moon to compete with your meteor observations this year—the waning crescent Moon doesn’t rise until closer to dawn! The Geminid meteor shower occurs every December and, this year, it’s expected to peak the night of December 13 through the early morning of December 14. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, U.S. to seek Trump's exit from rape accuser's defamation lawsuit, Perseid Meteor Shower: Peak Dates For 'Fireballs' Over San Diego. The first-quarter moon sets just after … The Geminid meteor shower puts on a consistently good show, with dozens of fast-moving meteors per hour visible in a dark sky. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. This phenomenon was first recorded in 1862 and causes a show each December. We have in-person and virtual Fall Camps that are designed to create a variety of fun, hands-on experiences for... UPDATE: Until further notice, Sharp Minds Lecture will be moving into the digital space. They're rare, but a sight to behold — a long, slow and colorful meteor that streaks horizontally across the sky. The Geminids are one of the most consistent meteor showers year after year. $3.99 non members, $2.99 members: Dream Big or National Parks Adventure. WASHINGTON– The Geminid meteor shower peaks this week, so hope for clear skies that will let you see a beautiful show of green fireballs on Thursday and Friday. The only thing the Perseids have over the Geminids is that they occur in the summer, when it's comfortable outside, but the Dec. 7-17 shower is known to produce up to 120 multicolored meteors at their peak. Copyright © 2020 Fleet Science Center. The Fleet Science Center invites you to connect to the power of science through FLEETtv! Looking for something exciting, fun and educational opprotunites for your student during the Thanksgiving holiday? In San Diego County, some good options include Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Palomar Mountain Observatory Campground. America's Musical Journey is free! There are no meteor showers in September, but the fall offers plenty of opportunity to see shooting stars, especially during those from the Geminid meteor shower. To see when they will peak in your part of the world, check here. "Most other comets are much smaller, with nuclei only a few kilometers across. Tiny bits of ice and dust from these objects hit the Earth’s atmosphere, causing a streak of light across the sky—a meteor! Please, see individual event description for information on time and registration. This year there will be no bright moon to compete with so the show should be particularly good. But the Perseids tend to be bright, so you should be able to see a fair number of them. The Geminids are one of the most consistent meteor showers year after year. If you’re able to find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every couple of minutes from 10 p.m. until dawn. And it will be visible to the naked eye. 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