‘Multi-coloured’ Geminids meteor shower to light up the skies this week – how to see up to 150 shooting stars per hour

THE Geminids meteor shower – one of the year’s last major displays – will peak this week, giving viewers an opportunity to watch up to 150 shooting stars per hour.

Each December the Geminids meteor shower returns for amateur astronomers, whereby Earth passes through a stream of debris left behind an asteroid called (3200) Phaethon.

AlamyA composite showing the 2017 Geminid meteors streaking from the radiant point in Gemini[/caption]

It takes Earth several weeks – between 4 and 20 December – to pass through the debris left behind by Phaethon.

The meteor shower is set to peak and become its most active on 14 and 15 December.

The rainbow lightshow is one of the year’s best, and most reliable.

While they are most prominent in the northern hemisphere, the Geminids can be viewed worldwide.

That means folks in the sunny southern states, such as Florida, will also be graced with the display.

“The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue,” according to the Royal Greenwich Observatory.

“The shower has been known produce over 150 meteors per hour at its peak, although light pollution and other factors mean that in reality, the actual number visible is far less.”

What sets the Geminids apart from other meteor showers is not their colourful nature, but their origin.

While most meteor showers originate from comets, Geminids are leftovers from asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

But unlike comets, asteroids don’t develop tails when approaching the Sun, and their composition is different.

According to the Royal Observatory, scientists are still debating if Phaethon is even an asteroid – because “although it is built like one, it doesn’t move like one”.

“Its orbit is highly elliptical, like a comet, which is why some scientists debate if Phaethon could be a completely new class of celestial objects: a rock comet,” say Observatory experts.

When is the best time to watch the Geminids?

Dr Minjae Kim, Research Fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, said the Geminids are observable during both night and predawn hours thanks to their nearly 24-hour peak period.

They will become active around 9pm or 10pm local time in the US and the UK.

How can I see the Geminids meteor shower?

This year’s display coincides with the new moon, so stargazers will be graced with ideal viewing conditions in a nearly pitch black sky.

Even if the lunar display is in your favour, it’s wise to choose a viewing spot with little light pollution, which is also unobstructed by a skyline or trees.

Binoculars and telescopes won’t be necessary, as they will restrict the size of the sky that’s visible to you.

But give your eyes at least an hour to adjust to the dark, so you can see the fainter meteors.

According to Dr Kim, “preparation for cold weather is essential” for folks in the UK or those in northern parts of the US.

“Viewers should lie flat on their backs with feet facing south, allowing for the best view of the sky.

“After (at least) about an hour in darkness, eyes adjust to the night sky, enhancing the visibility of the meteors.

“The spectacle continues until dawn, offering ample opportunities for observation.”