The Geminid meteor shower is coming this week

[Thom Little]

Bright shooting stars could be seen streaking across the night sky this week as a cloud of meteors hits the Earth. The Geminids are one of the most spectacular meteor showers to make a regular showing - appearing each year in mid-December.

Often bright yellow or green, they can be seen in almost any part of the sky, but appear to radiate from Gemini, near Orion. Under ideal conditions, up to 100 meteors an hour may be visible. This year only the brightest shooting stars will be seen because of the interfering light of an almost full moon. The shower is expected to peak between late evening tomorrow and the early hours of Wednesday.

Dr John McFarland, from Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland, said: "It may be best to face north or north-east, with the moon to your back, and view at an altitude of 45 degrees at the time of expected peak activity."


http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=2387622005

[mod mom]

1. cool! thanks for posting this.