Stargazers have a chance to see one of the most prolific one. It is visually appealing annual meteor showers as it reaches its optimal viewing time this week. Who doesn’t want to know about Geminid meteor shower 2023 time?
The annual Geminids meteor shower has been active since late November, and the shooting stars will ramp up to their peak.
NASA astronomer Bill Crooke said, ”Most meteors appear to be colorless or white, however the Geminids appear with greenish hue”.The moon pattern for this partiuclar year will produce a mostly dark sky during the peak, which will lead to an optimal viewing experience, according to the astronomy website EarthSky.
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Geminid meteor shower 2023 time
Unlike all the other showers that follow a specific path, the Geminids shower is visible to each and everyone simply by looking up at the sky. Since the radiant rises in mid-evening, you can even watch for Geminids from that late night to dawn around the peak dates of December 13 and 14.
When to look for and How many meteors:
The zenithal hourly rate for this shower is around 120. But you probably won’t be able to see that many. On a dark night, near the peak of the shower around 2 a.m. (that is for all time zones), you can often catch 50 or more meteors per hour. During an optimum night for the Geminids, it’s usually possible to see 120 meteors – or more – per hour. So with dark skies in 2023, you might be treated to a great show.
By the way, this shower favors Earth’s Northern Hemisphere. It’s visible from the Southern Hemisphere, too. The curious rock comet called 3200 Phaethon is the Geminids’ parent body. Isn’t it interesting to notice such a beauty?