Geminid meteors radiate from near the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. It’s ascending in the east in the evening hours.
Tonight – December 12, 2016 – we expect to see some Geminid meteors flying about, although the forecast calls for tomorrow (night of December 13) to be the optimal night. Moreover, this year we have a full supermoon on the peak night of the shower, which is sure to reduce the 50 or more meteors per hour normally seen in a dark, moonless sky. At mid-northern latitudes, you can start watching for Geminid meteors around 9 p.m. The Geminids fall most prolifically in the wee hours after midnight, centered around 2 a.m. local time. Despite the moonlight this year, the Geminids tend to be bright meteors and we expect a number of Gemini meteors to withstand the moonlit glare
People always ask:
How can I find the radiant point of the meteor shower?
You don’t have to locate the radiant of the Gemini meteor shower to see the Geminid meteors. The Geminids streak through any number of age-old constellations, but if you trace their paths backward, these meteors appear to radiate from the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. In fact, that’s the easiest way to find a meteor shower’s radiant point. Just wait to see a meteor and trace its path backwards. After several meteors, you’ll start to get the general idea of the radiant’s location on the sky’s dome.
But maybe you want to see the radiant before you see any meteors? In that case, look for the two brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux. They’re noticeable on the sky’s dome for being bright and close together. The radiant for the Geminids is near the star Castor.
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Can you recognize Orion and the line of 3 stars known as Orion’s Belt? If, so you can star-hop to the Gemini stars Castor and Pollux. The Geminids radiate from near the star Castor.
From mid-northern latitudes, Castor climbs above the eastern horizon around 8 to 9 p.m. local time. From temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, this star will rise later in the evening. But from everywhere worldwide the radiant will be highest in the sky and the meteors will fall most abundantly around 2 a.m. local time. Moving westward through the night, the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini climb high overhead after midnight and swing into the western sky by dawn.
Of course, the Geminid meteors don’t really come from the star Castor. The radiant nearly aligns with this star by happenstance. When Earth in its orbit crosses the orbital path of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, bits and pieces from this mysterious “rock comet” burn up in the Earth’s upper atmosphere as Geminid meteors some 100 kilometers (60 miles) above Earth’s surface.
The star Castor, on the other hand, lies way outside our solar system, at a distance of about 51 light-years.
Castor and Pollux, the Twin Brothers of Greek mythology. Photo via Flickr user ketrin1407
According to Greek sky lore, Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, born from Leda, their mortal mother, and sired by Zeus, the immortal god. Though the brothers were united in spirit, they were divided by circumstance. Castor, the mortal, was slain in battle, leaving his immortal brother inconsolable with grief. Pollux asked Zeus to release him from immortality, so he could join his brother in the great beyond.
Today, the Gemini Twins stand together in the heavens, a testament to the redemptive power of brotherly love.
Bottom line: Geminid meteors appear to radiate from near the star Castor in Gemini. Best way to find this radiant is to see a meteor! Then trace its path backwards.
EarthSky lunar calendars are cool! They make great gifts. Order now. Supplies limited.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2gD8YTe
Geminid meteors radiate from near the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. It’s ascending in the east in the evening hours.
Tonight – December 12, 2016 – we expect to see some Geminid meteors flying about, although the forecast calls for tomorrow (night of December 13) to be the optimal night. Moreover, this year we have a full supermoon on the peak night of the shower, which is sure to reduce the 50 or more meteors per hour normally seen in a dark, moonless sky. At mid-northern latitudes, you can start watching for Geminid meteors around 9 p.m. The Geminids fall most prolifically in the wee hours after midnight, centered around 2 a.m. local time. Despite the moonlight this year, the Geminids tend to be bright meteors and we expect a number of Gemini meteors to withstand the moonlit glare
People always ask:
How can I find the radiant point of the meteor shower?
You don’t have to locate the radiant of the Gemini meteor shower to see the Geminid meteors. The Geminids streak through any number of age-old constellations, but if you trace their paths backward, these meteors appear to radiate from the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. In fact, that’s the easiest way to find a meteor shower’s radiant point. Just wait to see a meteor and trace its path backwards. After several meteors, you’ll start to get the general idea of the radiant’s location on the sky’s dome.
But maybe you want to see the radiant before you see any meteors? In that case, look for the two brightest stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux. They’re noticeable on the sky’s dome for being bright and close together. The radiant for the Geminids is near the star Castor.
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Can you recognize Orion and the line of 3 stars known as Orion’s Belt? If, so you can star-hop to the Gemini stars Castor and Pollux. The Geminids radiate from near the star Castor.
From mid-northern latitudes, Castor climbs above the eastern horizon around 8 to 9 p.m. local time. From temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, this star will rise later in the evening. But from everywhere worldwide the radiant will be highest in the sky and the meteors will fall most abundantly around 2 a.m. local time. Moving westward through the night, the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini climb high overhead after midnight and swing into the western sky by dawn.
Of course, the Geminid meteors don’t really come from the star Castor. The radiant nearly aligns with this star by happenstance. When Earth in its orbit crosses the orbital path of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, bits and pieces from this mysterious “rock comet” burn up in the Earth’s upper atmosphere as Geminid meteors some 100 kilometers (60 miles) above Earth’s surface.
The star Castor, on the other hand, lies way outside our solar system, at a distance of about 51 light-years.
Castor and Pollux, the Twin Brothers of Greek mythology. Photo via Flickr user ketrin1407
According to Greek sky lore, Castor and Pollux were twin brothers, born from Leda, their mortal mother, and sired by Zeus, the immortal god. Though the brothers were united in spirit, they were divided by circumstance. Castor, the mortal, was slain in battle, leaving his immortal brother inconsolable with grief. Pollux asked Zeus to release him from immortality, so he could join his brother in the great beyond.
Today, the Gemini Twins stand together in the heavens, a testament to the redemptive power of brotherly love.
Bottom line: Geminid meteors appear to radiate from near the star Castor in Gemini. Best way to find this radiant is to see a meteor! Then trace its path backwards.
EarthSky lunar calendars are cool! They make great gifts. Order now. Supplies limited.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2gD8YTe
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