Geminid Meteor Shower to Illuminate Skies This Weekend, Offering Spectacular Viewing Opportunity
The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most prominent annual meteor showers, is set to peak this weekend, providing a spectacular celestial display. According to the American Meteor Society, the Geminids are visible through mid-December, with the best viewing opportunities occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. During the peak on Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday, sky-gazers could witness up to 120 meteors per hour under optimal dark sky conditions, as reported by NASA. The meteors, which are typically yellow in color, are the result of fast-moving space rocks entering Earth's atmosphere and burning up, creating the appearance of 'shooting stars.' The Geminids are unique as they originate from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, unlike most meteor showers that come from comet debris.