Top 10 tips for 2007 Geminid meteor shower
This image was made by pointing a camera at the north celestial pole, and leaving the shutter open. Earth's rotation causes the stars to appear as arcs circling the sky's north pole. These are called "star trails." The open shutter also caught a couple of meteors streaking past! (NASA image)
The Geminid meteor shower is coming! Its probable peak will be during the nights of December 13 and 14, 2007.
1. The Geminids are one of the year’s best meteor showers. The Gemininds often produce 50 or more meteors per hour, or nearly a meteor a minute.
2. This shower is one of the few that is as good to watch in the evening as after midnight.
3. Dark skies are essential. Find a place to observe in the country.
4. In 2007, the waxing crescent moon will be setting in the early evening hours during the shower’s peak. This little moon will diminish the shower in the earliest part of the evening, but leave most of the night dark for meteor-watching.
5. Most meteor in annual showers originate in comets. But the parent of the Geminid meteor shower is a mysterious body named 3200 Phaethon. This solar system object is termed an Apollo (near-Earth) asteroid, and it might be a dormant comet.
6. If you were to track the Geminid meteors backwards on the sky’s dome, you’d find them streaming from the a point in the sky within the boundaries of the constellation Gemini the Twins. This point – called the radiant point – lies close to Gemini’s bright star, Castor.
7. Radiant points are fun to think about. But you don’t need to know the constellation Gemini to see the meteor shower. On the night of the shower, Geminid meteors will streak all over the sky.
8. The best way to watch meteors is to bring along a buddy. Both of you watch different parts of the sky. If one of you sees one, shout out “meteor!”
9. Special equipment? Not necessary. You only need a dark sky, a reclining lawn chair and the warmth of a sleeping bag.
10. As a wise man once said, meteor watching is a lot like fishing. You go outside. You enjoy nature all around you. You hope you catch some!
