The Coming Geminid Meteor Shower

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by wet1, Dec 7, 2001.

  1. wet1 Wanderer Registered Senior Member

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    Mediterranean Leonid 2001
    Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel
    Explanation: A road trip from Ankara to the Mediterranean coast southeast of Antalya, Turkey found clear skies and splendid scenery for astrophotographer Tunc Tezel's viewing of the 2001 Leonid meteor storm. There he captured this dream-like image of a fireball meteor near the twilit horizon, reflected in calm ocean waters. Lights from coastal dwellings and nearby islands are seen in the foreground with brilliant Sirius shining as the brightest star in the heavens, visible in the constellation Canis Major at the upper right. Many enthusiasts who made special trips to view this November's Leonids were rewarded with similar spectacles of the fireball-rich storm. Airborne astronomers too had much to be thankful for as Leonid observations from a specially equiped aircraft flying at 40,000 feet produced bountiful data on the chemical composition of these dust grains from a comet's tail.


    The Geminid meteor shower will occur this coming week. It will start on Monday the 11th of December. The moon will be in the new moon phase and will not be a problem for viewing. Estimates are that the rate will approach 69 to 120 per hour with peak veiw time to be around 11 pm EST on Dec 13th. Unlike most meteor showers the Geminid shower is thought to originate from 3200 Phaeton, an asteroid that crosses the earth's orbit.
     

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