LA STAMPA (Italy), BBC (U.K), NASA, CHRISTIAN POST, LATIN TIMES (U.S.A.)
HUNTSVILLE– Every year around this time in December the real Christmas lights, aka the Geminid meteors, come out to light up the night sky. The BBC explains that the celestial shower occurs as the Earth passes through the path of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon that leaves the burning debris for us earthlings to marvel at.
Star gazers were out late to watch last night as the shower peaked at around 2 a.m. Those in the southern hemisphere didn’t miss out as NASA is live streaming the event from its Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama each night during the shower.
According to the Christian Post, the Geminids meteor shower was first recorded as being seen during the 1830s, making it one of the relatively newest showers. At that time about 20 meteors per hour were seen, however, that has increased significantly over recent times and the Geminids are expected to reveal as many as 80 to 120 meteors per hour at its peak.
This year, the shower co-incided with a new moon phase, allowing for ample darkness and maximum viewing says the Latin Times and possibly, the best shower yet. And another coincidence: the last Apollo mission landed back on Earth exactly 40 years ago (Dec. 14 1972) notes La Stampa.
Video: Armando Perez via YouTube
