For those of you in areas with clear skies tonight, there is another celestial show happening. Sometime overnight the Geminid Meteor shower will reach its peak.
The Geminid were first observed in 1862, and are believed to have originated with debris cast off by the Palladian asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, making them one of only two major showers not caused by comets. If conditions are right, viewers can expect up to 150 meteors per hour. And because it is in the winter sky, it should be easier to see due to the longer night.
The weather forecast for my neighbourhood is for clear skies tonight, so I will be sure to be out there. Although with the sub-zero temperatures, I may not stay out too long this time...
In : Astronomy