The finale of the Geminid meteor shower is about to take place. This year's Geminid meteor shower, China is in the best observation position in the world, and there is no influence of moonlight, which is suitable for naked eye observation and shooting. According to reports, this is the latest time for the Geminid meteor shower maximum in more than 100 years.
Astronomy enthusiasts told a reporter from Guangzhou ** New Flower City,This year's Geminid meteor shower is best observed in various parts of China from 22 o'clock on December 14 to before dawn the next dayAt around 3 a.m. on December 15, the Geminid meteor group and the Earth's orbit closely intersected (see schematic diagram), and the number of meteor showers was the highest, with about 150 meteor showers per hour. To observe the Geminid meteor shower, choose an environment with a wide field of vision, no light interference, and pay attention to cold and warmth.
Why is China in the best observation position in the world this year?According to reports, this mainly depends on two conditions, first, the best time for China's perennial observation of the Geminid meteor shower is from 0:00 a.m. to before dawn;This is followed by the Geminid meteor shower at its greatest time. This year, the above two almost coincided, so under the same weather conditions, China saw more Geminid meteors than the Western Hemisphere.
It is also reported that December 14 this year is the second day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, and after nightfall, the crescent moon will soon sink in the west. In places where there is no influence of light, you can see the faintest 6th magnitude star when you can't see your fingers. If such a place can be found, the conditions for observing meteor showers are ideal.
Astronomy enthusiasts told reporters that in the 90s of the 20th century, the maximum time (date) of the Geminid meteor shower mostly appeared on December 13 or 14. Looking at the 1932 astronomical almanac published in China, about 100 years ago, the Geminid meteor shower was extremely large, and most of them appeared on December 11. In other words, the Geminid meteor shower has a tendency to be more and more late at its very long time. But this is not unique to the Geminid meteor shower, for example, the maximum time of the Perseid meteor shower and the Leonid meteor shower also tends to be later and later.
Text: Guangzhou** New Flower City Reporter Ye Kass Correspondent Li Jianji.