If you're planning to catch a glimpse of the Geminid meteor shower, this week would the perfect time for you as the cosmic display is set to hit its peak on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
But before you head out and start looking at the evening sky, there are a few things you need to know about this year's last meteor shower.
What Is The Geminid Meteor Shower?
The Geminids are a meteor shower known to originate from a radiant in the Gemini constellation. Along with the Perseids, Leonids and the Quadrantids, they are some of the well-known showers ever to be identified.
Unlike other meteor showers, the Geminids are associated with the transit of an asteroid and not of a comet. Scientists believe that the celestial event is caused by 3200 Phaethon, a named asteroid known to have one of the closest orbits around the sun.
The first Geminid meteor shower ever to be observed happened in 1862. This makes it a relatively new event compared to others of its kind such as the Perseids and the Leonids, which were first seen in 36 A.D. and 902 A.D., respectively.
When Will The Geminids Appear In The Sky?
While the Geminid meteor shower can already be seen in the night sky at the start of December each year, the cosmic display doesn't reach its peak until around the middle of the month. Its highest intensity often occurs during the early hours of Dec. 14.
Researchers believe that the Geminids are becoming more and more intensified every year. Some of the most recent meteor showers have produced somewhere between 120 to 160 meteors an hour.
This year's celestial event will hit its highest point from late Tuesday (Dec. 13) until dawn on Wednesday (Dec. 14). Stargazers could see some 50 to 120 meteors during this period.
However, this month's scheduled full moon could get in the way of viewing the meteor showers. You can still catch some of the Geminids making their run, especially those bright enough to overcome the glare from the moon, but this could limit the number of meteors you see.
Where Will The Geminid Meteor Shower Be Visible?
People living in countries in the Northern Hemisphere are expected to have the best view of the Geminids, but those in tropical and subtropical regions in the Southern Hemisphere can still witness the meteor shower this week.
It's going to be a different case though for those living farther south because the Geminids' radiant won't reach high enough in the sky for these people to see the celestial display.
When viewing the Geminids in the evening sky, you should give your eyes enough time to adapt to the darkness. Waiting for about 20 minutes should do the trick.
Meteors also appear in spurts during showers, so you might have to wait quite a while to see them in between streaks.
