WITNESS ANNUAL GEMINID METEOR SHOWER 2015


Away from city lights from 4th December, 2015 to 17th December, 2015 people can witness annual celestial spectacle of Geminid Meteor Showers (Ulka Patham in Telugu/उल्का स्नान) from pollution free dark clear skies.

As per the International Meteor Organization (IMO) this meteor shower peak is expected at 11.30 p.m. IST (i.e. 18.00 p.m. UTC) on 14th December 2015 with maximum of up to 120 Meteors per hour to be visible from clear dark skies.

The  annual meteor shower is being observed by people across the world from 4th December 2015 this year. And one can see it up till 17th December 2015.

Why/How Locate Gemini – What you will see? –   the Twins (Pattern of Stars)?  Why Wait till 9pm? 3 hours after Sunset from 9pm onwards looking between North East and East Direction one can locate Gemini Constellation (two bright Stars parallel to each other – in the pattern of Stars appearing/known since ages as Twins).
It would seem as if these bright streaks of light are emanating near from star called Castor in Gemini constellation where the radiant of this meteor shower lies. People have to wait till 9.00 pm so that this constellation rises above horizon.  Telescopes are not required to see Meteor Showers.

How many meteors can be seen in an Hour?  Depending on observer’s location and skies above, many tens of meteors per hour will be visible with highest rates reaching up to a max of 120 ZHR (Meteors per Hour) on 14th /15th December, 2015.

Directions – Time – Evening, Midnight & Morning – till 17th Dec – Best Time to See:  People can observe this meteor shower by looking North East and East Direction from 9.00 p.m. onwards, while they are visible near to mid of sky by the time it is Midnight whereas early Morning walkers can see meteors in the western sky in the morning before Sunrise.

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