The final major meteor shower of the year is approaching. The Geminids, known for their high activity and consistency, typically produce 120 meteors per hour when viewed from a location with minimal light pollution.

The peak visibility of the phenomenon is on the night of December 14, although it can be seen between December 4th and 20th.

The Geminids stand out as they are not derived from a comet. Instead, they are linked to Phaethon, an asteroid with unusual activity. This leads to dust particles that are more compact than typical meteors and have a tendency to burst into smaller pieces as they disintegrate in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Fortunately, when compared to other meteor showers, the Geminids move at a slower pace, making them more visible and lasting longer in the sky.

The diagram displays the perspective facing towards the east of London at 9:00 PM GMT on December 14th. In the northern hemisphere, the Geminids are significant as they are typically active before midnight, allowing them to be easily seen by even those who are not avid stargazers.

From the perspective of the southern hemisphere, the radiant – the spot in the sky where the meteors seem to come from and spread out in all directions – typically appears around midnight but does not reach a high position in the sky. As a result, the number of visible meteors is reduced.

Source: theguardian.com