Geminids meteor shower fast approaching to peak Dec 13

PanARMENIAN.Net - The best meteor shower of the year, the Geminids, is fast approaching. On the night of December 13, 2012, the Geminid meteor shower will be peaking right around 8pm EST, though the best time to watch for them is always around 2am local time. This year the shower is going to be even more spectacular than normal as it coincides with the new moon.

The Geminids are named after the constellation Gemini, also known as the Twins, because that is the area of the sky that they appear to originate from. During this years shower maximum the meteors will seem to be emanating from the bright star Castor in the Gemini constellation.

According to the Observer’s Handbook of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Geminids are going to hit their peak around 8 p.m. EST Dec. 13 (00:00 UT on Dec. 14). So observers in Europe, North Africa, and parts of Russia and China are in the best position for this years show. During the peak, more than 120 meteors per hour are predicted, Planetsave said.