Set a reminder for the ‘most reliable meteor shower’
The Geminid meteor shower – or just Geminids, for short – will start as early as Friday, 4 December, and will peak on ten days later. It’s usually visibly until 17 or 18 December each year.
It is often described as “the most reliable meteor shower of the year”. That’s because stargazers would be able to see up to 120 streaks per hour, if the weather permits.
Only two other meteor showers can boast the same – the Quadrantids in January with 120 streaks per hour, and the Perseids in August with 150 streaks per neither. Neither meteor showers are visible from South Africa.
If you’re viewing from South Africa, the Geminids are about as good as it is going to get, in terms of meteor showers. Set your reminder so you don’t miss the spectacular show.
Geminid meteor shower 2020: What you need to know
What exactly are the Geminids
According to the Bronberg Weather Station in Pretoria, the Geminid meteor streams are “groups of meteoroids originating from dust grains ejected from Asteroid 3200 Phaethon,” an Apollo asteroid.
Apollo asteroids form part of a group of near-Earth asteroids; discovered by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth in the 1930s. There are 10 485 known Apollo asteroids.
Every time the Earth passes through this stream of dust particles (i.e. meteor stream), left behind by the asteroid, we experience what is known as the Geminids meteor shower.
We sometimes mistakenly refer to meteor shower streaks as ‘shooting stars’.
Is it visible from South Africa
Yes, the Geminids are visible from South Africa, as confirmed by the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA):
“Grab a deck chair, some coffee, and you may also catch a fireball or three from the Geminids.”
The radiant lies at RA 07h 28m, +33° 50′, near Castor (alpha Geminorum). An interactive map is available on TimeAndDate. During meteor activity, toggle the ‘live’ button for real-time data.
While South Africans are in a prime position to view the Geminid meteor shower, do note that the visibility of the Geminds – or any meteor shower, for that matter – depending on several factors.
These include geographic coordinates of observer and elevation; time of the day, city light pollution, the weather and terrain.
How to see the Geminids
Find a nice, dark spot – preferably from around midnight to dawn – lie flat on your back if possible. Then, look up in the north-north-east direction towards the constellation of Gemini.
However, your eyes will need about 20 to 30 minutes do adjust to the dark. According to NASA, stargazes would be able to see up to 100 streaks per hour in perfect viewing conditions.
“Folks in suburbs will see fewer, 30 to 40 per hour depending on the lighting conditions. And those downtown in major cities will see practically nothing – even though the Geminids are rich in beautiful green fireballs, [city lights] will blot even them out. Dark clear skies are the most important ingredient in observing meteor showers.
NASA
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