Geminids: The slow meteor shower that hails from an asteroid
It’s a visual delight to witness a splendid display of light streaks in the sky, with all of these streaks coming from one source! This is what a meteor shower looks like. Meteor showers originate from a passing comet or asteroid. However, there are variations too! Geminids is a special kind of meteor shower caused by an asteroid, not a comet.
Geminids at a glance
This 200-year-old meteor shower peaks during mid-December. Geminids, which come with a yellow hue are easier to spot while burning, thanks to the fact that they are slower than others. Their speed? 35 km/s! This meteor shower emanates from the debris of an asteroid, known as 3200 Phaethon.
The first Geminids shower
The Geminids first appeared during the mid-1800s. They were made in 1833 from a boat in Mississippi River, USA. However, the fist showers didn’t quite impress space scientists as only 10–20 meteors per hour were spotted. However, with time, the number of meteors has increased, and currently, you can spot 100–150 meteors!
The asteroid that gave birth to Geminids
Geminids originate from ‘3200 Phaethon’, a tiny asteroid 3.17 miles (5.10 kilometres) in diameter. Named after Helios’ (Greek Sun God) charioteer, 3200 Phaethon takes 1.4 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. It is currently being extensively studied by astronomers. An astronomer named Fred Whipple was the first person to identify that Phaethon is the source of Geminids. Unlike other asteroids, Phaethon does not form a tail as it reaches the Sun. It is rather similar to an asteroid with a rocky surface. 3200 Phaethon was discovered on October 11, 1983, by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite.
Upcoming Geminids meteor shower in 2023!
In 2023, the Geminids meteor shower will peak during the new moon on December 14 at 6:32 PM Eastern Standard Time. It will be best seen at 2 AM local time when the source point is the highest in the sky! The Geminids meteor shower may be seen best from the Northern Hemisphere, with lower visibility in the Southern Hemisphere. So, what should you do if you want to view this meteor shower? Go somewhere dark, sit back and chill! Geminids will be visible to naked eye, so you won’t need any special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars. The key is to view as much sky as possible and allow your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Avoid using your phone and flashlights with the red-light option to preserve your night vision.