Geminid meteor shower 2015: the best time to watch this prolific astronomical

The Geminid Meteor shower, kicked off the month with a dazzling show all around the world and its growing intensity can be visible from high rooftops, mountains, and cliffs.

Get ready for a cosmic light show this weekend, as conditions are ideal for the yearly Geminid meteor shower.

Staring into the endlessness of space while more stars appear as your eyes adjust to the night is an experience everyone should enjoy as often as possible. This “radiant”, as it’s called, lies just west of the bright star Castor. “You’ll have the meteors coming from that direction, though they may be appearing very far from it”. All you need is a warm sleeping bag, reclining lawn chair and some hot chocolate.

According to NASA, the major difference with this meteor shower than with most is that the best viewing is around 9 or 10 PM until dawn.

Like an old friend dropping in for the holidays, it’s time for the annual Geminid meteor shower to make an appearance in our local skies. But even suburbanites under bright lights should get to see at least some of the biggest and brightest meteors – one every three minutes or so. “Around here, that typically means heading north of the city into northern Oakland (and) Macomb counties”. Just remember: the darker, the better.

The only threat to a good show could be clouds.

Discovered in 1983, Apollo asteroid 3200 Phaethon has a highly eccentric orbit with a period of 523.5 days that brings it closer to the Sun than any other named asteroid.

Geminid meteors can be seen for several nights before and after the peak, so take advantage of any clear night this week and next.

” What is a meteor shower?”. It’s more comfortable in the summer, of course.

You can find out more about observing the Geminids in the December edition of Astronomy Now in addition to a full guide to the night sky. “In the Northern Hemisphere, we talk about Perseids – they come out in August, and it’s fun to stay up then”. From now until the 17 December you can expect to see some of the meteors without any special equipment from around 9pm. Shortly before sunrise, the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mars will form a line in the eastern sky, a convergence that will begin to break up in January.