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Geminid Meteor Shower

An anonymous reader writes "physorg.com is carrying a story on the upcoming Geminid meteor shower, which will peak on December 13th. This is usually a high-rate meteor shower, and this year will be no different. The early morning hours are the best time to see them. Space.com is also reporting on the shower. This shower was also covered by Slashdot in 2003, 2002, and 2001."

4 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Naked eyes and/or binoculars... by datastalker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Remember kids, for best viewing experience, just lie on the ground facing up - most of this can be seen with the naked eyes. If you want to try binoculars, that might work as well - but telescopes are not needed for this one. If someone had told me that the first time I went out to look, I wouldn't have wasted those first two hours wondering why I couldn't see anything. ;)

  2. Light pollution by FiReaNGeL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I sure love meteor showers (as everyone does I guess; I mean, free wishes!), but observing them in non-light polluted areas ain't easy. You have to get out of town, and even then, finding a 100% dark place is an adventure nowadays.

    1. Re:Light pollution by Cecil · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I still don't get the whole constellations naming thing. I don't see the pictures nor do I see the appeal.

      The reason we still bother having constellations today is because they provide an easy way of mapping the sky in your head (at least once you get to know them). It's the similar to the way saying something is in Northern Canada gives you a better idea of where it is than saying something is at 61.297 N 112.883 W, even though the former is completely arbitrary.

  3. where is it visible? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I live in the uk, near London. Will I be able to see it?