Lovers of the night sky could be in for a treat tonight as clear conditions are predicted for one of the best astronomical shows of the year.
Some experts believe the annual Geminid meteor shower is becoming more spectacular – though if it is, nobody is sure why – and with cloudless skies possible in many parts of the country, this year's event could be a particularly memorable one.
At its peak and in a clear, dark sky, up to 100 meteors – or shooting stars – may be seen every hour. The best time to see it is expected to be late on Monday night and in the early hours of Tuesday after the moon has set.
In comparison with other showers, Geminid meteors travel fairly slowly, at about 22 miles per second. They are bright and have a yellowish hue, making them distinct and easy to spot.
Meteors are the result of small particles entering Earth's atmosphere at high speed, burning up and super-heating the air around them, which shines as a characteristic short-lived streak of light. In the case of the Geminids, the debris is associated with the asteroidal object 3200 Phaethon, which many astronomers believe to be an extinct comet. The Guardian
3 comments:
Pity it's cloudy.
Yes - typical! I was looking forward to this.
What did the slow comet say to the fast comet?
'If you go any faster you'll meteorself coming back.'
Post a Comment