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Geminid Meteor Shower This Weekend

Posted by Soulskill on from the be-there-or-be-asleep dept.

StartsWithABang writes: Most meteor showers originate from comets well out beyond Neptune, only entering the inner Solar System periodically. In those cases, we have to wait long periods of time for the showers to develop, and suffer many years with paltry displays as we pass through the parts of the comet's orbit thin in particles. But the Geminids are special: they're formed from a short-period asteroid and only began in the mid-19th century. Ever since then they've been intensifying, and conditions are right this year for the most spectacular display of all time. Here's how to catch 2014's greatest meteor shower, including where to look, when, and where to go online in case of clouds.

15 of 24 comments (clear)

  1. When/Where by TheRealMindChild · · Score: 1

    The best I can find as to when is at night, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As to where, look at the constellation Gemini.

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    "When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back!" -- Cave Johnson
    1. Re:When/Where by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      I don't have a Gemini, but I do have a genuine Atari 2600, would that work?

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    2. Re:When/Where by NMBob · · Score: 1

      I think I saw two of them last night (Tues) just in the couple of minutes it took to take out the garbage. One to the north and one to the west...from Gemini. This was early too. Like 9:30pm. Hope the weather holds out in New Mexico.

    3. Re:When/Where by mrbester · · Score: 1

      The best pace to look is with your back to Gemini, looking at the rest of the sky.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
  2. Re:Weather should be good this weekend by ArcadeMan · · Score: 2

    Yeah, me too. I blame the Internet.

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  3. Better Link by turp182 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Much more concise:
    http://www.chiff.com/science/g...

    And I do actually enjoy Medium articles, but in this case it was about specifics, I just want to watch.

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    BlameBillCosby.com
    1. Re:Better Link by JustinKSU · · Score: 1

      Much better article. Thank you. Is there any general direction we should look, or just UP?

    2. Re:Better Link by mrbester · · Score: 2

      Lie in a lawn chair with your head towards Gemini. General direction to look is anywhere but the radiant.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    3. Re:Better Link by mooingyak · · Score: 1

      When the submitter is StartsWithABang, you can generally count on a shitty article with excessive exclamation points and a picture every paragraph or two. Almost always a fascinating topic, just can't stand the style.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  4. Best Time by LittleRedStar · · Score: 1

    Best night will be Saturday, December 13th as the usual peak (time of maximum meteors) will be Sunday morning for the Central US. Just look up for a awhile, you can't miss it.

    Unfortunately the moon rises around midnight Saturday and becomes a real nuisance by 1:00am CST. Once the moon is well above the horizon the sky is not so dark and you miss the fainter meteors. Likely your best show is between 8:00pm CDT Saturday night to 1:00am Sunday morning.

    If its clear spend some time outside. I last watched the Geminids in 2012 and they put on a great show (no moon interference that year).

  5. racists! by doti · · Score: 1

    As usual, no info for residents of the southern hemisphere.

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    1. Re:racists! by geantvert · · Score: 2

      You stupid! There are no meteor showers in the southern hemisphere. Think about it! They fall from above and you are under the earth!

  6. Science facts from 2014 by geantvert · · Score: 1

    Comets stink but Meteors shower

  7. Geminid Meteor Shower This Weekend by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 1

    Good timing. Those meteors were getting pretty rank.

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    They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
  8. TFA by manu0601 · · Score: 1

    TFA is really F***ing article: they say to look at 7 PM with no mention of time zone.