Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Поток Джеминид из созвездия Близнецов http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1163302/eng |
Credit & Copyright: B. Yen (Comet-Track)
Explanation:
The
Leonid meteor shower was not the only good meteor shower this season.
Earlier this month, the annual Geminids meteor shower peaked,
featuring as many as 140 meteors per hour from some locations.
Geminid meteors can be seen streaking away from the
constellation of
Gemini, as depicted in the above all-sky photograph.
The origin of the Geminid
meteors
is somewhat uncertain but thought to be small bits
broken off the unusual asteroid
3200 Phaetheon.
Many observers reported that the 1998 Geminids were typically less bright than the
1998 Leonids,
but appeared more bunched,
with groups of two or three meteors
sometimes appearing simultaneously.
Next years'
Geminids
might be better yet.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.