Geminids meteor shower 2010

13 Dec 2010

13 December 2010 - Clouds permitting, don't forget to look out tonight and tomorrow for the last major meteor shower of the year. The Geminids are due to reach their peak at 16.45 UT on 14 December, as the Earth ploughs through a stream of debris left behind by asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The fragments burn up as they hit the Earth's atmosphere causing the shooting stars, some reaching the size of big fireballs.

The Geminids shower seems to be intensifying each year, and an average of about 100 meteors per hour are expected to radiate from near the bright star Castor.