Weather News

Next two nights to feature year's best meteor shower

Ben Domensino, Thursday December 13, 2018 - 15:10 AEDT

The most spectacular meteor shower of the year will be visible from Australia during the next two nights.

The Geminid Meteor Shower occurs each year as Earth passes through a cloud of particles shed by an Asteroid called 3200 Phaethon.

As these particles reach our upper-atmosphere at extremely high speeds, they vaporise and produce a streak of colourful light called a meteor.

Image: Geminid Meteor Shower (NASA)

The Geminid Meteor shower is particularly good to witness because the particles from 3200 Phaethon are more dense than those that produce most other meteor showers. This causes them to generate a more vivid streak of light as they burn up.

This year offers a good opportunity to witness the Geminid Meteor Shower in Australia because the moon will set during the middle of the night, making it easier to see the meteors in a dark sky.

The best way to witness the meteor shower will be to look towards the north during the early morning on Friday and Saturday, as far away from city lights as possible.

Of course, you'll need to check forecasts and warnings to see whether clouds or severe weather will be affecting your area before heading out.

- Weatherzone

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