The Geminid meteor shower peaks tonight (Thursday) and Friday night, with rates of up to 100 per hour just before dawn. Most meteor showers are caused by icy comets, which spew jets of meteoroids when they are heated by sunlight. The Geminids are different. The parent is not a comet but a weird rocky object named 3200 Phaethon — which may or may not be a chunk broken off of the asteroid Pallas, with debris from the collision providing the meteors.
Or 3200 Phaethon may a “rock comet” — a new kind of object being discussed by some astronomers. It’s basically an asteroid that comes close enough to the Sun for debris to be scorched off its surface, contributing to a comet-like tail. But that theory has its holes, too. There’s more info in the video above and here. Whatever is causing it, it’s a show worth catching.
This is interesting astronomy.
I wondered if PW had a take on the delineation/ astrology of it?
Phaeton I guess is some aspect of mental process..(flying too close to the Sun and getting burnt)..because of his connection with Pallas Athene.
There has been so much emphasis on Gemini/Mercury this year.
I think a lot of minds are being shaken up! Mine especially!
Always a joy to read/hear the results of NASA’s research into the science behind these celestial events. Here in Britain we experienced a fireball at 17.40 UT, 2012 December 13, seemingly part of the Geminid shower. Sadly I didn’t get to witness it, or any of the meteor shower, due to cloud cover. Maybe next year …
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11954932
Amanda: Thank you for this informative and well-considered piece.
Nice link. Fascinating.