The northern Hemisphere, the United Kingdom in particular, is witnessing the most dazzling celestial display of the year called the 'Geminid meteor shower', where over 100 shooting stars are seen per hour for over 10 days.
The meteor shower, which is one of the most awaited displays in the sky, is expected to speak on 13 and 14 December. Sky gazers can expect a thrilling experience as thousands of shooting stars and fireballs will illuminate the night skies for days together in a heavenly display by nature.
Stargazers are expected to get good views as the annual shooting stars usually occur under bright, crisp, clear winter skies.
These meteor shows occur when the Earth passes through the path of a swarm of space debris that burn upon reaching the Earth's atmosphere, causing "shooting stars". The meteoroids causing the Geminid showers were left by an asteroid '3200 Phaethon'. It is one of two meteor shows that do not originate from a comet.
Dwellers in urban regions will do themselves good if they drive a little far away from big city lights and view the spectacle in the wilderness and in open space with minimum hustle and bustle. No equipment is generally needed to get a good view as binoculars or telescope will only narrow down the view.
The Geminid show received its name from the constellation of Gemini. The meteors come from a spot in the sky near the bright star Castor in Gemini. This shower is not as famous as another meteoric occurrence called the 'Perseids', especially because December weather in the UK prevents a good view.
If the weather in your area hinders a good show or if you are in a different part of the world, online live stream of the shower will be provided by the Slooh Community Observatory during peak time starting Sunday, 12 December 2014, 7:06 am IST (6:06am GMT).
