The night sky in winter may be a little dimmer compared to the Milky Way in summer, but the Geminid meteor shower in December is arguably the most dazzling starry sky fireworks in winter. This astronomical extravaganza is a meteor shower caused by the asteroid 3200 (Asteroid Phaethon), which has a very definite orbit and brings an unforgettable astronomical spectacle to the stars of the Northern Hemisphere every winter in mid-December.
This year's Geminid meteor shower will arrive around December 14 as scheduled and will be active until the 20th. At the peak of the shower's activity, the number of meteors per hour can reach 150. However, it should be noted that its meteoroids are very slow, and the number of meteors with high brightness is high, and even ordinary cameras can capture particularly beautiful meteors. Fire meteors are also common in the Geminid meteor shower, and if you're lucky, you'll be able to see a spectacular super meteor streak across the sky.
Photographing meteor showers is basically the same as photographing the starry sky, but timing is crucial. Generally speaking, meteor showers last for several days, and the peak traffic is around December 14, and the best time to see them is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. on the 15th, when the moonlight has the weakest effect on the observation effect. In terms of shooting, we can point the lens to the east or southeast for a long time. Of course, the brightest part of the winter sky is Orion, so we can also use the equatorial mount to point the camera at Orion. If you don't use an equatorial mount, it is recommended to use a wide-angle lens to cover the southeast sky as much as possible, so that it is easier to capture more meteors.
In addition to shooting skills, there are some precautions that you need to pay attention to. The first is to keep the environment dark and avoid the surrounding light sources from interfering with the shooting effect. The second is to take precautions to keep warm, after all, it takes some courage to stay outdoors for long periods of time in cold winter nights. Finally, patience and perseverance are required, because photographing meteor showers requires long hours of waiting and waiting, and only perseverance can capture those moments of beauty that change in an instant.
In conclusion, the Geminid meteor shower in December is an astronomical spectacle not to be missed in winter, and it brings us endless surprises and emotions. If you're a starry sky lover, plan your trip ahead and bring your loved ones along for stargazing!