Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by cmn32480 on Friday December 11 2015, @06:32PM   Printer-friendly
from the star-light-star-bright dept.

From ras.org.uk:

From 13 to 15 December, skywatchers across the world will be looking up as the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, in potentially one of the best night sky events of the year.

At its peak and in a clear, dark sky, tens of 'shooting stars' or meteors may be visible each hour (the theoretical maximum under ideal conditions is about 120 an hour). Meteors are the result of small (mm- to cm-sized) particles entering the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, burning up and superheating the air around them, which then shines as a characteristic short-lived streak of light. In this case the debris is associated with the asteroidal object 3200 Phaethon, which many astronomers believe to be an extinct comet.

The meteors appear to originate from a 'radiant' point in the constellation of Gemini, hence the name Geminid. By 0200 GMT the radiant will be almost overhead as seen from the UK, making it ideally placed for observers. As a bonus, the Moon will not be present in the sky for most of the night during the period of maximum activity, so the prospects for a good view of the shower are excellent. And unlike many astronomical phenomena, meteors are best seen without a telescope and are perfectly safe to watch with the naked eye.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by karmawhore on Friday December 11 2015, @09:00PM

    by karmawhore (1635) on Friday December 11 2015, @09:00PM (#275147)

    Orion begins to rise in the southeast in late evening (for me). Very recognizable. Just to the south of that, you'll see Aldebaran in Taurus (very bright star), and the V of the bull's horns is mostly brightish stars and easy to make out. If you follow from the bottom of the V back through Aldebaran and up past Orion's club, you're just about in Gemini. I hope that is somewhat helpful.

    --
    =kw= lurkin' to please
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2