Shooting stars in December The Geminids are here - but the full moon gets in the way
With the Advent season comes the shooting star season: from the end of the week, the annual Geminid meteor shower can be observed. But this year the spectacle in the sky will be affected by the full moon.
When are the Geminids in the night sky?
The shooting stars peak on the night of December 13-14, as Marc Eichenberger, President of the Swiss Astronomical Society, told the Keystone-SDA news agency on request. However, the Geminids can be seen in the sky throughout the entire period from December 6 to 16.
How many shooting stars can be observed?
The maximum number of shooting stars per hour is around 150, but this is a theoretical value, according to Eichenberger. The light from street lamps or other artificial lighting impairs the view.
In addition, the moon is full on December 15, which further limits the number of visible Geminids. The moon rises on Friday, December 13, at the beginning of dusk and sets again towards Saturday morning, as meteorologist Klaus Marquardt wrote in a blog article on the "Meteonews" portal on Wednesday. It therefore illuminated the sky for practically the whole night.
As a result, only very bright Geminids will be visible and the number of shooting stars that can actually be observed will be reduced enormously. According to Eichenberger, only five to ten meteors per hour will be visible in the Swiss sky.
The best way to see the Geminids
The Geminids are best observed at night and at dawn and are visible all over the world due to an almost 24-hour wide maximum.
Eichenberger recommends starting your observations around 9 or 10 p.m. to get the best possible view of the shooting stars. In terms of location, the mountains would be more suitable, as they tend to offer a darker night sky. However, a "dark spot on the Central Plateau" is also suitable. However, before setting off for a darker area, be sure to check the weather report again.
Observation tips
- Look for a spot in the dark - preferably far away from city and street lights.
- To prepare for the winter temperatures, bring a sleeping bag and blanket. Take a thermos flask of coffee or tea and a place to sit.
- If possible, lie flat on your back with your feet facing south and looking upwards. This will allow you to see as much of the night sky as possible.
- To get your eyes used to the dark, it is advisable to leave your smartphone in your pocket for a while.
- And finally: plan enough time: shooting star observation always requires a little patience.
Where do the Geminids come from?
The Geminids originate from a cloud of dust that passes through our Earth on its orbit around the sun at the same time every year. This probably originates from the minor planet Phaethon, which may have broken up and left debris in its orbit. These now enter the Earth's atmosphere as dust particles, in which they then produce the luminous phenomena known as shooting stars. These are bright and fast meteors that are usually yellow in color.
The shooting star shower peaks every year in mid-December and is one of the most beautiful celestial events. According to NASA, however, this was not always the case: the Geminids first appeared in the mid-18th century and, with only 10 to 20 meteors per hour, were not particularly remarkable. It was only over time that they developed into the shooting star spectacle that is now worth seeing.
SDA
