A significant astronomical occasion that may be seen with the bare eye is about to happen in our skies, with probably a whole lot of meteors seen per hour.
The Geminid meteor bathe begins on 4 December and continues till 20 December, with its peak on 14-15 December providing the potential of a very spectacular sight.
You will want a little bit of luck as clear skies are key, and a full moon can also be set to make meteor viewing extra of a problem this yr.
Picture:
Dafydd’s gorgeous picture taken throughout the 2023 Geminid meteor bathe
What might you see?
For those who’re profitable, Dafydd says you may “firework-type flashes” of largely white streaks, however probably the odd mushy inexperienced one too.
They’re additionally identified to often seem in yellow, inexperienced, crimson or blue.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich says the colors are partly brought on by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium – the identical components which are used to make fireworks vibrant.
Picture:
One other of Dafydd’s photographs from a earlier bathe
The height can produce as much as 150 meteors per hour, however they arrive and go quick.
Dafydd, who runs a stargazing enterprise in Wales referred to as Serydda, warns: “Seeing one is going to cause some excitement and some quiet screaming!”
How will you see it?
14-15 December is the height and is due to this fact prone to provide the finest likelihood, however you may attempt to see the meteors on any night time from 4-20 December, particularly when the skies are clear.
Dafydd advises discovering your meteor spot throughout the day and familiarising your self with it for security, and recommends bringing somebody with you in your meteor hunt.
Picture:
Pic: Dafydd Wyn Morgan
Your finest guess is discovering a spot that might be very darkish at night time, away from unnatural lights.
Dafydd recommends heading there between 9pm and midnight on the night time, geared up with a torch. A crimson mild torch is finest, as it can assist information the way in which whereas letting your eyes modify to the darkish.
Your subsequent plan of action must be to lie down dealing with northeast/east, Dafydd says, in direction of the Gemini constellation between the moon and Mars.
When you’re in your spot and your eyes have adjusted to the darkish, it is a ready sport – so be sure you wrap up heat.
The moon is about to be full on 15 December, in response to the Royal Observatory, and its pure mild might show an impediment.
Dafydd is amongst consultants who say it might be fairly a big problem, notably to seeing dimmer meteors, however he says if the climate is obvious, it is positively nonetheless value making an attempt.
What’s the Geminid meteor bathe?
Picture:
Pic: Dafydd Wyn Morgan
The Geminids originate from a rocky asteroid referred to as 3200 Phaethon with a comet-like orbit and had been first noticed in 1862.
The meteors, small items of interplanetary particles, seem to radiate from close to the intense star Castor within the constellation Gemini.
In accordance with the Royal Observatory, the Geminids are uncommon as they are often multi-coloured.
The streaks seen within the night time sky can really be brought on by particles as small as a grain of sand, and the Geminids are considered intensifying yearly.
