The Geminid shower, one of the most powerful meteor showers of the year, will peak tonight. Astronomers expect up to 150 "shooting stars" per hour, but the bright Moon will interfere with observations.
The Geminids are one of the most powerful annual meteor showers that occur from December 4 to 17 with peak activity on the night of December 14. According to the forecasts of the International Meteor Organization, up to 150 meteors are expected per hour.
The meteor emission region (radiant) will be located near the star Castor in the constellation Gemini. First of all, it will rise above the horizon around two in the morning, so it is better to start observations after midnight. In northern latitudes, the radiant will be above the horizon in the early evening.
Due to the position of the Earth in space, the swarm will catch up with our planet, which is why the speed of the meteors will be low - about 35 km/s. White and bright meteors can fall very often, but this year the moonlight will interfere with observations. The conditions for observing Geminids in 2022 are not favorable. The moon is nearing its last quarter and will be interfering with meteor watching.
Unlike most other meteor showers, the progenitor of the Geminids is not a comet, but an object discovered in 1983 and named 3200 Phaethon. Astronomers call it an intermediate object, which is a cross between asteroids and comets.
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