Here’s the lowdown on this spectacular event and where to watch in Abu Dhabi.
In 2020, the grand celestial show Geminid meteor shower will put on a fantastic show! There will be no moonlight interference this year, so expect very good visibility in clear skies. Mark your calendars for the night of December 13, when the bright Geminids peak with over more than 120 meteors an hour.
The Geminids occur every year from about December 4 to 16, peaking the night of December 13 into the morning of December 14. This is the shower’s “maximum,” or time when the most meteors fall per hour.
The peak of the Geminids, which is considered to be one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year, is after dark on December 13 2020 starting around 10.00 PM.
The Background
The shower owes its name to the constellation Gemini because the meteors seem to emerge from this constellation in the sky. Meteors should be visible across the entire sky, though from Abu Dhabi, the radiant of the shower will appear 58° above your north-eastern horizon at midnight.
This means you may be able to see around 120 meteors per hour, since the radiant will be high in the sky, maximizing the chance of seeing meteors.
What causes meteor showers?
Unlike most other meteor showers, the Geminids are not associated with a comet but with an asteroid: the 3200 Phaethon. The asteroid takes about 1.4 years to orbit the Sun.
Geminid’s parent – 3200 Phaethon – is a “rock comet” Every year, in December, our planet Earth crosses the orbital path of an object called 3200 Phaethon, a mysterious body that is sometimes referred to as a rock comet.
The debris shed by 3200 Phaethon crashes into Earth’s upper atmosphere at some 80,000 miles (130,000 km) per hour, to vaporize as colorful Geminid meteors.
Where to Watch
The best places to watch are in the deserts of Abu Dhabi away form light pollution where the darkness is complete. Suggested viewing places are the Al Quaa Desert or Al Khatim Desert.
You don’t need any special equipment or a lot of skills to view a meteor shower. All you really need is a clear sky and handy Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to see a meteor shower, the following tips can help maximize your shooting star viewing experience.
Dress for the weather as it gets very cold in the desert, and make sure you are comfortable, especially if you plan to stay out long. Bring a blanket or a comfortable chair with you.
Find a secluded viewing spot, away from the city lights. Your eyes may take 20 minutes to get used to the dark. Lie down on the ground and look up in the direction of the radiant. Use our Interactive Meteor Shower Sky Map to find the current direction of the radiant in the sky.
Happy meteor spotting and don’t forget to take lots of pictures.
