Photo: Forbes.com
The Geminids
Oh, I’m so annoyed at myself. I meant to write to you last night about the Geminids. They’re the shooting stars (read meteor shower) – replete with the potential for “multicolored fireballs” – that are peaking tonight. Just after 2:00 a.m., there’s a great chance of witnessing 50-100 meteors streaking through the skies above per hour.
Imagine!
Technically, the Earth will continue to pass through the debris field that causes the Geminids through December 17th. So there’s still time for you to catch some oohs and aahs – although it will get progressively more difficult. First of all, with each passing night following tonight, we’re passing through less and less debris. Secondly, each night will be illuminated more by the waxing moon, which will be full on the 18th.
So tonight’s the best night for catching these chunks of space debris streaking across the sky.
History and Stuff
Last year the Geminids peaked on exactly the same dates (December 13-14). Sadly, clouds obstructed our enjoyment of the height of the spectacle last year, although I did manage to see three meteors a few days beforehand while trying to glimpse the aurora borealis.
Just a few days ago I wrote about Comet Leonard, and I reminded us all that meteors are caused by space dust or ice crystals splitting off from comets. What I didn’t know was that the Geminids are supposedly the greatest meteor showers because they streak across the sky in long, often colorful arcs. But the reason for the long arcs is because the debris soaring into our atmosphere are pieces of ‘3200 Phaethon’ – an asteroid as opposed to a comet. As a result, the little chunks are heavier and their density causes them to take longer to burn up, bringing them closer to Earth before they burn out completely. Their longer burn time increases the chances we’ll see them making their way across the heavens. Those others – the Delta Aquariids, Leonids, Orionids, Perseids, Alpha Monocerotids, to name a few – often come and go so quickly, it’s easy to miss them. (Good grief. I never realized how many of these I’ve written about and hoped to glimpse!)
Aquariids 2019 – Photo: abc7.com
Tonight’s Prospects
Judging by the heaviness of my eyelids at the moment, I may not stay up until 2:00 a.m. tonight. But I’m definitely going to try to see at least a few before I go to bed. So once I hit ‘publish’ tonight, I’m outta here.
Full disclosure: I just took the pups outside for their ‘final watering’ for the evening. Wow, the moon is bright. And I think I glimpsed some haziness obscuring the stars, at least from this vantage point. My expectations have therefore diminished slightly – but I’m still going to hop in the car and drive to my favorite celestial viewing spot a mile or so away. One of these nights maybe I’ll get lucky and actually witness ’50-100’ meteors per hour. That would be quite a thrill for this inveterate meteor chaser.
(T+6)