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Credit & Copyright: Steed Yu and
NightChina.net
Explanation:
Where do Geminid meteors come from?
In terms of location on the sky, as the
featured image composite beautifully demonstrates,
the sand-sized bits of rock that create the streaks of the
Geminids meteor shower
appear to flow out from the
constellation of Gemini.
In terms of parent body,
Solar System
trajectories point to the asteroid
3200 Phaethon -- but this
results in a
bit of a
mystery
since that unusual object appears
mostly dormant.
Perhaps, 3200 Phaethon undergoes greater
dust-liberating events than
we know.
Over 50 meteors including a
bright fireball were captured during the peak of the
2015
Geminids Meteor Shower streaking above
Xinglong Observatory in
China.
The Geminids of
December are one of the most predictable and
active meteor showers.
This year's
Geminids peak tonight and should be particularly good because, in part, the
nearly
new Moon will only
rise toward dawn and so not
brighten the sky.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Geminids - meteor shower
Publications with words: Geminids - meteor shower
See also: