Hello everyone! It's been a couple weeks since I published a new article. Thankfully, I'm finished with all my finals and I don't think they went too badly. I'm excited to start writing again!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I've been really into Astronomy and space travel recently. I've been watching all the movies and documentaries about space that I can get my hands on. Virgin Galactic's unveiling of their new commercial spacecraft was easily the highlight of my week!
So, if you are as up to snuff on your astronomy as I am, you will know that this weekend our planet is going to enter the vicinity of an object called 3200 Phaethon.
This results in the Geminid Meteor Shower that we observe every December. But there is something that makes the Geminids very unique. Rather than beings bits of dust from a comet, the Geminid meteors that we observe burning up as they enter the atmosphere are actually fragments of 3200 Phaethon itself.
This is strange because 3200 Phaethon is thought to be an asteroid, and asteroids don't normally strew debris and dust into space in their wake. So where did the Geminid meteors come from? Astronomers have a handful of possible explanations. One theory is that a collision with another asteroid could have created the trail of dust and rock.
But the most recognized theory is that 3200 Phaethon used to be a comet. While the theory hasn't been proved yet, there is plenty of evidence to support it.The most convincing of which is 3200 Phaethon's path of orbit.
The orbital path is highly elliptical, which would typically be characteristic of a comet. And every 1.4 years, it takes 3200 Phaethon extremely close to the sun. Twice as close as Mercury, in fact. Just to give you an idea of the extreme temperature to which 3200 Phaethon would be subjected, the average temperature on Mercury is 800°F during the day.
So, while comets are defined by being made mostly of ice and dust, 3200 Phaethon could have easily been an enormous comet at one time that has since lost its ice and been reduced to a rocky skeleton by frequent close encounters with our sun.
Another interesting point is that the Geminid Meteors have only been visible for about 150 years. The first sightings were noted shortly before the US Civil War. At that time, they were weak and did not garner much attention. But the shower has been steadily intensifying each year since.
Recent showers have been recorded at 120-160 meteors per hour with optimal viewing conditions. This is attributed to the idea that Jupiter's gravity is pulling 3200 Phaethon's stream of debris closer to the earth each year. And the closer the debris gets, the more meteors we see.
Many astronomers predict that the recent ("recent" being a relative term here) appearance of the Geminids and their steadily increasing proximity to our planet means that in the next several decades, 3200 Phaethon will be an increasingly dynamic object to watch.
The Geminids get their name from the constellation, Gemini. They most often appear to come from a radiant in that constellation, but they can appear almost anywhere in the sky.
This year, the shower will reach it's peak at about local midnight on December 13th. This means that if you would like to watch the shower, the best time to do so will begin at midnight, no matter where you are, on Sunday evening.
Viewing conditions are going to be very nearly ideal. The optimal viewing window will be at least several hours wide, and the shower is going to occur two days before the new moon. Providing that the sky is clear that night, you should easily be able to catch a glimpse of the best meteor shower of 2009.
So if you are planning on staying up to watch, here are my tips to make the most of the evening:
- Find a good location ahead of time.
- You'll want to be somewhere where the night sky and your eyes won't be affected by bright city lights.
- Bundle up.
- Depending on your location, it's probably going to be cold. So wear layers, warm socks and shoes, gloves, hats, and pack extra blankets.
- Know where to find the constellation Gemini.
- Gemini is one of the most easily recognized constellations so you should easily be able to locate it using a star map, or you can get a friend to show you.
- While you will be able to see the Geminids all over the sky, you will see the greatest number by knowing that they will appear to come from the vicinity of Gemini.
- Pack furniture.
- Reclining lawn chairs are perfect. But a comfy blanket will work as well.
- Prep your eyes.
- You will want to give your eyes at least fifteen minutes to adjust to the dark before you will start to see all the meteors possible.
- A good rule of thumb is when you can see each star in The Little Dipper, then your location is dark enough and your eyes have sufficiently adjusted.
- Also, if you plan on using a flashlight, find one with a red bulb. Or at the very least, cover the light with some red tissue paper and a rubber band. A red light will not affect your ability to see in the dark.
- Bring snacks!
- Hot cocoa and cookies are never a bad idea!
Whether you choose to watch with friends, or in solitude, The Geminid Meteor Shower may be one of the most beautiful natural spectacles you will see in your lifetime!
Enjoy it! And if you get a chance, report your experience back to me in a comment on this article.
