Geminid meteor shower

Liz · #1 10-12-2010, 05:49 AM

This is a pretty reliable meteor shower that is on currently.
It runs from about December 7th - 17th, an peak for us on the morning of the 14th, though the day before and after should be Ok too.
These are little remnants left over from an object called 3200 Phaethon, which is a rocky asteroid like object. Earth runs into its stream every mid December, allowing us to witness some lovely meteors.
This should be a good year as there is no Moon to interfere with the views. The radiant rises just before midnight, and is just below Castor (in Gemini), and best time should be from 2-4 am thereabouts.
More info http://science.nasa.gov/science-news...6dec_geminids/

I have seen quite a few Geminids over the years, typically before midnight, though the peak is afterwards.
Suzy may have glimpsed some last night??
I popped outside this am from 0345 -0430 hrs, and only saw one little one plopped into Orion, but thats it.
Will try again in a couple of nights.

Analog6 (Odille) · #2 10-12-2010, 06:38 AM

If it ever stops RAINING at night I might get to see them. We haven't had a clear night/early morning for over a month now.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 10-12-2010, 09:28 AM

Fingers crossed we get some more clear skies. haven't seen a decent meteor shower for 5 years.

Liz · #4 10-12-2010, 10:12 AM

I know jjj .... I usually try and get out for a look, but end up seeing minimal meteors.

Will keep on trying though, cos 1 day .......... kaboom!!

Hope you get some clear skies too Odille.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #5 10-12-2010, 10:22 AM

I'm glad you mentioned this. I somehow got it in my head that it was the 10th, but now checking my outlook calendar I have it listed as 12am on the 15th. Go figure.

ZeroID (Brent) · #6 10-12-2010, 12:01 PM

Might climb up a small volcano in the back yard to get a better squizz at them, couple of hundred meters above the city funk helps.

Binca (Bianca) · #7 10-12-2010, 02:08 PM

I have only been into astronomy for around a year, off and on. So never seen a meteor shower that I can think of, really looking forward to this! The skies better be clear! Where is the best direction to look? I am the type of person who could easily stand facing the wrong way, or spin in circles, and miss everything D=

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #8 10-12-2010, 02:26 PM

I believe they are called the Geminids because they originate in the constellation of Gemini. Of course, I couldn't tell you where to find that.

Binca (Bianca) · #9 10-12-2010, 02:36 PM

Well, that does make sense. Typical me not to think of that.. :/ I can find constellations easy enough.

erick (Eric) · #10 10-12-2010, 02:50 PM

Here you go, Bianca - much the same as this (even though it is from 9 years ago!)

Bit of reading here:- http://earthsky.org/tonight/radiant-...-meteor-shower

Binca (Bianca) · #11 10-12-2010, 03:03 PM

Thankyou, that is really helpful

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #12 10-12-2010, 03:24 PM

Oh yay. Near Orion, the most common place I look to in the sky

mozzie (Peter) · #13 10-12-2010, 07:00 PM

hi liz
had a session in the scope last night and finished around 4.30 seen around 6 geminids there may have been more but you miss a lot in the eyepiece!!!
they were short but nice and bright!!!!

RobF (Rob) · #14 10-12-2010, 09:09 PM

I want KABOOM Liz!

One day......
Just imagine hundreds an hour........

Binca (Bianca) · #15 10-12-2010, 09:15 PM

"Oh yay. Near Orion, the most common place I look to in the sky"

-high fives- I love that constellation. I think it was Orion, and the great nebula, that really got me into astronomy last year

Liz · #16 11-12-2010, 04:49 AM

Yeah, well done Mozzie for catching a few!!

Absolutely Rob, Kaboom would be great, though Leonid storm was pretty well Kaboom .

Yes, Trent, Orion will be good to chill out and watch as the Geminids fall into it.

Good luck Bianca - if you check out the constellations around Gemini, you should be able to catch quite a few.

cookie8 (Vincent) · #17 11-12-2010, 11:00 AM

Tonight will be the only clear night for a while according to the Bureau. The only window for us Sydneysiders. I will definitely have a go.

luigi · #18 11-12-2010, 12:03 PM

I've always been curious about which is the best meteor shower for the SH, I guess this is it?
I'll try from Argentina, need to prepare my ground 2 cloud missils as the weather is particularly crazy at this side of the globe.

Forecast for today:
Morning: Sunny 17C
Aft: Showers 34C

Reality:
Morning: Showers, 20C
Aft: Sunny 25C

This happens every day!

Trixie (Carey) · #19 11-12-2010, 03:19 PM

Thanks so much for posting the info... I wasnt sure what the best time was to see them.... Not that we are likely to see anything here in yucky cold cloudy Adelaide!

Kevnool (Kev) · #20 11-12-2010, 03:39 PM

No clouds tonight tmie to get the bannana lounge out and look up.

Cheers kev.