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Geminids meteor shower peaks this week: What you should know to see the show
The Geminid meteor shower, caused by asteroid 3200 Phaethon debris, offers up to 150 meteors per hour and is one of the most colorful annual meteor events, experts say.
- On December 14, the Geminid meteor shower will peak overnight around 2 a.m. EST, with viewers in the U.S. seeing up to 150 meteors per hour in ideal conditions.
- Astrophysicists say the shower originates from asteroid 3200 Phaethon, roughly three miles across with a 1.4-year orbital period, which sheds debris that enters Earth's atmosphere.
- Look toward Gemini with Castor as the radiant, which rises about 9 p.m. local on December 13 and peaks around 2 a.m.; meteors appear bright, often yellow or multi-colored, NASA says.
- Skywatchers can still catch the show through December 20, with no special equipment needed; Adler Planetarium advises using a reclining chair, allowing eyes to adjust, and bundling up for cold overnight lows.
- This year the Geminids present an especially good chance to view meteors before the next major shower, with favorable conditions expected and a waning crescent Moon about 26 percent full reducing lunar glare for observers.
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This weekend you can see a shooting star almost every minute. But only those who are in certain places have a real chance at the geminids.
By Katie ColeTo read this article in English in WBUR, click here.The night sky is about to become the scene of a star performance.The Geminid meteor shower, an annual celestial event featuring hundreds of shooting stars, will peak this weekend."Geminids are probably the most undervalued and prolific meteor shower we have," said Kelly Beatty, senior editor of Sky & Telescope magazine.Beatty noted that Geminids are particularly spectacular because…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution77% Center
Bias Distribution
- 77% of the sources are Center
77% Center
C 77%
15%
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