Stargazers can gear up for celestial fireworks to ring in the holiday season as the annual Geminid meteor shower is set to peak this weekend.
From Saturday, Dec. 13 (evening) to Sunday, Dec. 14 (morning) nearly 20 to 60 meteors are expected every hour. However, the moon will rise about midnight, which will brighten the night sky, making it difficult for stargazers to espy the meteor showers.
For the uninitiated, the Geminids are hailed as the strongest and most dependable meteor showers and get their name from the constellation Gemini. They are produced by Phaethon, an asteroid and were first sighted in the 1830s.
The Geminids create beautiful arcs as they whiz through the sky like floating fireballs in the nights. They can speed through the atmosphere at 30 kms per second and the showers last for a second or two at the most.
Stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere who are keen on soaking in this visual spectacle are advised to head outside between 8 PM to 12 Am so that the moonshine does not hinder their view.
One does not need to be equipped with binoculars or telescopes to espy the meteors as they are quite swift and zoom across the sky quickly. Lying down on your back with a sleeping bag underneath and a hot cup of cocoa would be the ideal way to stargaze,
Here are some tips to help you enjoy the Geminid meteor shower:
- Find out the peak time for the shower in your time zone.
- Find out the expected rate of the number of meteor showers each hour.
- Familiarize yourself with the phases of the moon.
- Dress warmly as it will be cold outside.
- Carry a blanket and some hot drinks.
- Keep some snacks to munch on handy.
- Bring a lawn chair to watch the night sky comfortably.
- Try to switch off the lights in your backyard to see the meteor shower clearly as meteors are not very bright.
- Pray the skies are not cloudy!
Enjoy the Geminids meteor shower, but if you miss this one then try and catch Ursids which will be visible from Dec. 22 to Dec. 23.
