Dazzling Geminid meteor shower to lighten up the sky this December; here's how to watch

December 2020 will bring in a Geminid Meteor Show, says a blog by NASA. show will be active from December 4 to December 17 as “earth plows through trail of dusty debris left behind in orbit of asteroid 3200 Phaethon – which might actually be a burnt-out comet”. Geminids contribute to a show every year, however, this year will be even better as peak will coincide with new moon. 

How and when to watch 

According to blog on NASA’s official website, geminids peak overnight on December 13th into morning of 14th. Talking about best view, blog says, “find a safe location away from bright city lights, lie flat on ground with your feet pointing south and look up”. Viewing is good all night for rrn Hemisphere, with activity peaking around 2am local time. After midnight viewers can enjoy beauty in Sourn Hemisphere. blog also talks about how Jupiter and Saturn have been travelling across sky toger all year and this month y will put on a show. two planets will get closer than ever during first three weeks of December. 

Read: Leonid Meteor Shower To Be Visible Across India From Today | When And Where To Watch

(Im Credits: NASA)

(Im Credits: NASA)

(Im Credits: NASA)

Relevance of December 21

On December 21, two giant planets will ‘appear just a tenth of a degree apart – that's about thickness of a dime held at arm's length!’. This means that planets and ir moons will be visible in same field of view through biculars. A small telescope can also be used. Being termed as a “great conjunction”, event is one of most awaited events of year 2020. Such an event occurs once in every 20 years in this century. This happens when orbits of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn periodically align making se two outer planets appear close toger in our nighttime sky. 

Read: Huge Meteor Shower Happening Today; Here's Everything You Need To Kw

t only this, but December 21 is also date for December solstice. This solstice is considered to be ‘winter solstice’ in rrn Hemisphere and ‘summer solstice’ in Sourn Hemisphere. As per blog, during December Solstice, Sun reaches its sournmost position in sky, irrespective of where on Earth you happen to be.

Read: Meteor Showers List 2020: Schedule And Best Days To Observe Phemena

Also Read: NASA To Pay Colorado-based Start-up $1 For Collecting Moon Rocks

(Im Credits: Youtube/NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)