The mornings of December 13 and 14, the Geminid Meteor shower peaks. The moon will be in a waning crescent and will only be visible just before dawn.
Barring the effects local weather conditions, it should be a fine time for viewing the shower.
Will 2017 Be a Big Year for the Geminids?
Maybe. Here’s why…
Other than the aforementioned waning crescent moon, a curious body known as 3200 Phaethon, which is sometimes called a rock comet and thought to be the source of the Geminid meteor shower will be traveling relatively close to Earth.
3200 Phaethon is supposed to come close to Earth in a few days after the Geminid’s peak on December 16.
Check out these links:
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/rock-comet-3200-phaethon-geminid-meteor-shower
https://www.virtualtelescope.eu
https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/wordpress/Geminids2017_english.pdf
Rod is a blogger, writer, filmmaker, photographer, daydreamer who likes to cook. Rod produces and directs the web series, CUPIC: Diary of an Investigator. He is also the editor, producer and administrator of STM Daily News, a part of the TNC Network.
