Will 2017 Be a Big Year for the Geminids?

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 Washington

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.