Bhopal, December 14 (Udaipur Kiran) – Astronomy enthusiasts are in for a special treat tonight as the sky will display a spectacular meteor shower. The dazzling fireworks of meteors are expected to light up the night, offering a stunning celestial show. Viewers may witness over 100 meteors per hour, making it one of the most remarkable meteor showers of the year.

The best time to observe this phenomenon is from around 9 PM until dawn on Sunday. Sarika Gharu, a National Award-winning science communicator from Madhya Pradesh, explained that this meteor shower will appear in front of the Gemini constellation. Due to this association, it is called the Geminid Meteor Shower.

Unlike most meteor showers which are linked to comets, the Geminids originate from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. This asteroid takes approximately 1.4 years to orbit the Sun. When Earth passes through the dust trail left by 3200 Phaethon in December, the dust and rocks enter the upper atmosphere, burning up and creating the bright streaks seen as meteors.

Sarika clarified that while people often refer to these meteors as “shooting stars,” they are not actual stars. Stars are located millions of kilometers away, whereas these meteors occur within about 100 kilometers of the Earth’s atmosphere, making the term “shooting star” a common misconception.

For the best viewing experience, choose a dark, safe location away from city lights. Allow your eyes about 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. The meteor shower will be visible in the northeast direction starting from 9 PM. No special equipment like telescopes or binoculars is needed; a clear sky free of clouds is all that is required. The Geminid meteors can be easily seen with the naked eye.

(Udaipur Kiran) Tomar

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