From what I here the Geminids are putting on a nice show. Can't see bugger all here again. The clouds have taken the sky and I fear will remain there for the foreseable future. Well not the worst case scenario at least some people have seen the shower and they have been busy taking photos! One of my favourite so far is taken by Mark Vornhusen (from Switzerland on Dec. 13, larger version here.):
More pictures can be found at:
http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/gallery_13dec04.htm
I love meteor showers but I have been unfortunate with my observing. In fact I have tried to observe the Leonids (strongest shower in November) for 8 years now... still none seen!! I actually only saw my first meteor 3 years ago. A wonderful streak over the Tennis Courts - a complex of student flats where I used to live. Was one of my most memorable experiences of the first year at Uni... apart from all the normal student stuff. Actually I don't remember all of them... wonder why!
Well what are the Geminids?
The Geminids are a meteor shower that appears to radiate from the constellation of Gemini - in fact you see them all over the sky but the majority appear to come from Gemini. They are a fantastic sight. Two years ago me and my girlfriend, whilst in Maidenhead (Berkshire), where given a fantastic show. We, I think, saw about 20 in all of an hour! Was wonderful. The Geminids are different to most meteor showers since they are not created by comet debris but in fact that of an asteroid. The asteroid is 3200 Phaethon. This is normally within the Asteroid belt. It is believed that the meteors are due to a collision between 3200 Phaethon and a neighbour. This caused it to change it trajectory and caused debris to follow it on its orbit around the solar system. This is just a theory. There is another one which suggests that 3200 Phaethon is a dead comet. Comets pass close to the Sun and the tails are caused by the vaporization of the comet due to the suns "rays". Repeated experiences of this kind might cause the comet to lose its icy exterior and just leave behind the rocky skeleton and "comet dust" in its trail As we pass through the debris left by 3200 Phaethon the particles collide with the atmosphere causing the meteor shower.
