oh my stars stage set for spectacular meteor show
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

annual Geminid shooting star show

Oh my stars! Stage set for 'spectacular' meteor show

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Oh my stars! Stage set for 'spectacular' meteor show

Oh my stars! Stage set for 'spectacular' meteor show.
Paris - Arab Today

A thin, waning moon should allow for uninterrupted views Wednesday night of the annual Geminid shooting star show, set to be "spectacular" this year, astronomers say.

At its height, the meteor shower should yield a shooting star every minute, offering plenty of opportunity for wish-making, they said.

Peaking on Wednesday night, it will be "particularly rich in bright meteors, or fireballs," the Irish Astronomical Association (IAA) said.

"There will be no moonlight to interfere so observing prospects this year are very good."

Meteors, or shooting stars, are produced when small particles from space enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, burn up, and streak across the sky.

The Geminid particles, so called because they appear from an Earthly perspective to be streaming out of the Gemini constellation, actually come from a mysterious space rock, about five kilometres (three miles) in diameter, called Phaethon.

"Phaethon's nature is debated," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "It's either a near-Earth asteroid or an extinct comet, sometimes called a rock comet."

Some astronomers say there may be more meteors this year because of Phaethon's close approach to Earth. Three days after the shower, it will shave past at a distance of about 6.4 million miles (10.3 million kilometres), or 26 times the distance of Earth to the moon.

Given its size and proximity, Phaethon is classified a "Potential Hazardous Asteroid -- not the closest to Earth but "quite close for such a big one!" according to the IAA.

"Although there's no risk of a collision this time, it could potentially come much closer in future, which is why astronomers around the globe will be studying it closely this time."

An impact from a body of that size would be "catastrophic", causing tens or hundreds of millions of deaths, the IAA said.

In the meantime, though, Phaethon provides a yearly, December meteor fix.

The show can be observed from anywhere on Earth where the sky is clear and dark, though it is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere.

"You'll need to be well away from cities and towns to escape the light pollution," the IAA said.

"You don't even need binoculars, just your own eyes. If coming out from a bright room, wait at least 10 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the dark outside."

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

oh my stars stage set for spectacular meteor show oh my stars stage set for spectacular meteor show

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

oh my stars stage set for spectacular meteor show oh my stars stage set for spectacular meteor show

 



GMT 12:11 2017 Thursday ,27 July

Tony Baroud to present new TV show

GMT 23:00 2017 Monday ,16 October

Egypt FM to head for Slovenia on Monday

GMT 20:06 2017 Friday ,20 January

Daesh in new demolitions at Syria’s Palmyra

GMT 21:06 2017 Friday ,24 November

Marriyum condemns Hayatabad terrorists attack

GMT 01:00 2017 Saturday ,25 November

Cabinet Affairs Minister Meets Indonesian Ambassador

GMT 02:34 2018 Thursday ,04 January

Merger creates state-owned gas giant

GMT 10:08 2017 Tuesday ,07 March

Geneva farce: The regime is the opposition

GMT 10:19 2017 Saturday ,18 November

AJK Prime Minister condemns across LoC shelling

GMT 11:34 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

33 Syrians killed in Air raid on Raqqa’s school

GMT 11:03 2017 Wednesday ,01 March

Asala declares her solidarity with George Wassouf

GMT 17:57 2017 Wednesday ,11 October

Mideast nations turn to private sector

GMT 14:11 2016 Wednesday ,30 November

Tunisia wins billion-dollar pledges to boost economy

GMT 23:41 2017 Tuesday ,26 September

Qatar laborer ‘sacked’ after speaking to UN team

GMT 04:28 2017 Tuesday ,21 March

Enrique Iglesias to headline Bahrain F1
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday