SKY watchers are in for a treat this week as the annual display of Geminid meteors should be better than ever.
Cold conditions and dark skies mean the Geminids will be visible from Scotland, peaking just after midnight
on Wednesday.
The “shooting stars” should be visible in and around the constellation of Gemini, which is close to the constellation Orion – easily distinguishable by the “hunter’s belt” of three bright stars. To view them at their best, observers should look away from Gemini to see the meteors as they travel across the sky.
First spotted in the USA in 1833, the Geminids are tiny particles associated with the asteroid 3200 Phaeton, officially classed as a “near Earth object”, which collided with another celestial object in the distant past so that it emits a steady stream of tiny particles on its orbit around the sun.
Earth passes through this stream and because of the growing effect of the giant planet Jupiter’s gravity on 3200 Phaeton, the number of particles turning into meteors is increasing — scientists predict as many as 100 Geminid meteors per minute could be seen this year.
Bill Cooke of Nasa’s Meteoroid Environment Office said: “With August’s Perseids obscured by bright moonlight, the Geminids will be the best shower this year.” The thin, waning crescent Moon won’t spoil the show.”
He explained that some of the meteors visible might not belong to the Geminid shower. Some might be sporadic background meteors, and some might be from weaker, active showers like the Monocerotids, Sigma Hydrids and the Comae Berenicids.
“When you see a meteor, try to trace it backwards,” said Cooke. “If you end up in the constellation Gemini there’s a good chance you’ve seen a Geminid.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel