Geminids Meteor Shower: Heres How, Where & When to See It!
Tonight is going to be an exciting night for stargazers around the globe as the year’s most extraordinary cosmic display is set to illuminate the sky brightly.
The Geminid meteor shower, considered to be one of the brightest displays in the night sky, is active now and all set to light up the sky till early hours of Friday.
Those willing to brave the chilling December cold can witness the spectacular light show simply by finding a spot from where the sky is visible clearly; no extra equipment needed. During the short period, people — provided they find a clear sky — will be able to view glowing arcs of different colours across the Northern Hemisphere sky. You will be able to witness over 100 shooting stars in just an hour, but only till the sky remains dark. The spectacular display can be enjoyed from many locations across the globe, including India.
Geminid meteor shower – How is it different?
The Geminid meteor shower is different from other such cosmic displays as it can penetrate deeper into the Earth’s atmosphere. In this case, Geminid meteors have originated from 3200 Phaethon, a rocky asteroid.
This meteor shower occurs every year as the Earth passes through debris left from the asteroid while orbiting the sun. As soon as the debris from the asteroids comes in contact with the Earth’s atmosphere, they cause a flare and produce arcs of bright light across the sky.
These showers are most likely to occur every year during December the same time when the planet passes through a trail of debris left behind by the 3200 Phaethon.
Where to watch it in India?
Those in the northern hemisphere will be able to get a better view of the cosmic shower. The meteors travel at a velocity of anywhere between 35-75 km/hr.
It is also the last meteor shower of the year, so it does not seem to be a bad idea to plug off your smartphones for a night and witness this amazing cosmic manifestation.
With minor updates, this artical is sourced from IndiaTvNet
