The best meteor shower 2023 lights up the sky this week - how to see it

Viewers can expect to see around 120 meteors per hour when the Geminids have reached their peak.


Regular stars know that there is always something worth seeing in the night sky. Sometimes it can catch a surprise Overview of a comet Pass the earth. Other times, it can be a special event such as a solar or lunar eclipse. But when it comes to annual glasses planned, most of them look forward to the moment when the Geminids light up the sky with what can be the best meteor shower of the year. Read the rest to find out more about how to see it this week.

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The shower of meteors geminids began and enlightened the sky for a large part of December.

A person watching a meteor shower in the night sky standing next to their tent
ISTOCK / BJDLZX

Anyone who is ready to brave victims' evening temperatures For a real treat in the coming days. The shower of Meteors Geminids is now underway, launching what many consider "one of the best and most reliable" of these shows all year round, according to NASA.

In addition to its reputation for high activity, the event also stands out for several reasons. On the one hand, it is considered as a relatively young annual occurrence, the first observations reported taking place in the middle of the 19th century, according to NASA.

And unlike many other well -known meteor showers which are powered by the comet dust trails, the Geminids are created by particles left by an asteroid known as 3,200 phaethon which takes about 1.4 years to fully orbit the sun. The rocky debris left in the wake of the object - which the space agency also calls a "comet rock" - is much denser than the dust generally left by a passing comet.

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This year's conditions could make visualization even more spectacular than usual.

A wide shot of the night sky with dozens of meteors streaking
BJDLZX / ISTOCK

It can also be difficult to beat the Geminids in terms of how much you can hope to see. He is known to have produced the most active spectacle on the calendar, bringing approximately 120 meteors visible per hour during its peak, according to NASA. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

This year, the Stargazers could participate in an exceptional show. This is because the geminides are fixed at a peak on the December 13 evening Throughout the morning of December 14, which is only one day after a new moon, according to the Earthsky astronomy site. This means that there will be almost no light interference, which facilitates seeing as many "filming stars" as possible.

And because the dense materials create meteors, they also take a unique appearance. According to NASA, viewers can generally expect "brilliant and fast meteors" which "tend to be yellow in color".

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Here's how to make sure you have the best meteor shower viewing experience.

A family camping in a tent while looking up at the Milky Way and night sky
anatoliy_gleb / istock

The Geminids are already visible and will continue to pass through the night sky for more than a week, finally shrinking on December 24. But if you plan to go out to see them at any time by the evening on December evening. 13, there are some tips to keep in mind that could improve your experience.

According to NASA, Geminids are a privileged viewing experience for young stars, because they tend to start earlier in the evening, around 9 p.m. Pull the best party of the almost moonless conditions by leading in a place far from the lights of the brilliant city, lampposts or other forms of light pollution. Any location must have such a wide view of the sky as possible and give you at least 30 minutes so that your eyes adapt completely to darkness.

Most nights, the Geminids will reach a summit almost 2 a.m., according to Earthsky. It is best to warmly dress or plan a sleeping bag or bag to help you stay comfortable in potentially icy night temperatures in December. Meteors also tend to come in jolts between the lulls, so you can improve your chances by bringing a friend who can look at a different section from the sky and call any activity when this happens.

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Geminids are not the only celestial event that takes place this month.

Istock / M-Gucci

If you are looking to get a little more observation from Stargazing this month, there are other important events that you may want to mark on your calendar.

Throughout December, our planetary neighbors Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn will line up along the southern horizon shortly after sunset, Voyage + Leisure reports. The show begins most of the nights around 6 p.m. Before aligning closer to 20 hours, but an appearance of the moon between Jupiter and Neptune on December 20 could provide the most memorable sight.

And from December 13, Ursid Meteor's shower also starts in the night sky. Even if this show does not benefit from the same moonless conditions as the Geminids and is generally less active, it should peak on the evening of December 21 with an average of 10 meteors per hour before finishing its race on December 24, by Voyage + Leisure .

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Tags: News / Science
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