The last month of 2022 welcomes us with one of the most intense meteor showers of the year, it is the Geminids that are active from November 19 to December 24, 2022, reaching their maximum in the middle of this last month.
The American Meteor Society indica that the Geminids are usually the strongest meteor shower of the year, likewise, NASA emphasizes which is considered one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers. In this way, no astronomy lover or enthusiast can miss this spectacular astronomical event, so we will tell you everything you need to know.
Why are they called Geminids?
As with all meteor showers that are named according to their radiant point, that is, the point in the sky from which they appear to come, the Geminids are named this way because their radiant is the constellation Gemini. , near the bright star Castor.
You should keep in mind that this constellation is only a reference that serves to help viewers determine what shower they are seeing on a given night, however, this is not the source of the meteors, which in this case corresponds to the asteroid 3200 Phaethon .
What is the best time to observe the Geminids?
As we already mentioned, the Geminids meteor shower remains active from November 19 to December 24, 2022, but its maximum peak is expected for December 14, 2022, this being the most active moment to search for. beams of light in the celestial vault.
Note that from Earth it is possible to see Geminid meteors whenever the radiant of the shower, in the constellation Gemini, is above the horizon, and the number will increase the higher the radiant point is in the sky.
In this way, it is recommended to make the observation after 10:00 p.m. on the night of December 13, 2022, at which time the constellation will be well positioned in the night sky, and until dawn on December 14, 2022. Is according indicait is likely that the shower will produce its best samples around 03:00 hours.
At NASA describe that during the maximum of this meteor shower you can see 120 meteors per hour in perfect conditions. In addition to their abundance, the Geminids are characterized by being intensely luminous and fast and tend to be yellow or white in color, offering a great astronomical spectacle.
From where to see?
In general, this meteor shower can be observed both in the northern and southern hemispheres, however, in the first case the astronomical event can be seen in all its splendor, while in the second it is visible, but at a much higher rate. more low.
What about the moon during the peak of the meteor shower?
Unfortunately, a waxing gibbous moon is expected above the horizon during the peak of the meteor shower, which could interfere with viewing as it will rise around 04:46 UTC.
Nevertheless, EarthSky recommends us try to look at the moonlight. Geminid meteors tend to be bold, white, and fast; the brightest will surpass the light of the moon.
Tips for Watching the Geminids Meteor Shower
To observe the Geminid meteor shower it is not necessary to observe the radiant. earthsky us Explain that meteors often do not become visible until they are about 30 degrees from their radiant point (constellation Gemini); meteors further from the radiant are easier to detect.
Also, meteors are coming off the radiant in all directions, so they will appear to be everywhere in the sky.
In this way, to carry out the observation we advise you to do the following:
- Find a spot away from light pollution.
- You should prepare a sleeping bag or blanket and lie on your back.
- NASA recommends lying on your back with your feet facing south.
- Look up, observing as much of the sky as possible and keep your eyes on it, so that your eyes adjust, this will happen after approximately 30 minutes.
- Look for the meteors in the opposite direction of the radiant (Gemini Constellation), there you will find the most visible and spectacular meteors.
- This is how you will start to see meteors, remember to be patient, the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to observe it.
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