Geminid meteor shower 2018: shooting stars seen flashing across night sky by stargazers
Stargazers were dazzled by the stunning Geminid meteor shower on Thursday night as a flurry of shooting stars streaked across the sky.
The display, which is considered one of the best astronomical phenomena that can be easily seen from earth, appeared on a clear night – the best conditions to see the coloured, glowing arcs.
Despite the freezing weather, stargazers across the UK, mostly in rural areas, reported seeing the meteors.
It peaked at around 2.30am, appearing all over the night sky, unlike many meteor showers.
Yay..Got one. #Geminid meteor over Northumberland. Had to use the fisheye lens to stand a chance but what the heck...I'm taking this as a win. #nightsky @VirtualAstro pic.twitter.com/1DNOhVbgpQ
— Corvid Tales (@CorvidTales) December 13, 2018
First meteors tonight #GeminidMeteorShower pic.twitter.com/MaIDJpHKmo
— UK Meteor Network (@UKMeteorNetwork) December 13, 2018
In perfect conditions, up to 120 Geminids an hour would be visible, but weather and light pollution normally means around 50 an hour are seen.
The Geminid meteors appear to radiate from near the star Castor, which is in the constellation Gemini.
Just been out watching in darkest Worcestershire. Saw about 30. Worth braving the cold even though I’ve lost all feeling in my feet!
— Tracy W 🕊 (@tracyintenbury) December 13, 2018
Although most meteor showers are caused by comets, the meteors splintered from a rocky asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
The shower can produce multi-coloured flashes, with white, yellow, blue, green and red visible.
We got one! Big bright one when we came out of the kids' Christmas show earlier tonight around 8pm. Very, very lucky timing. It was freezing then, many layers needed if anyone's going out now!
— HelenCallis (@HelenCallis) December 13, 2018
I’ve been out 2 x 20 min stints in back garden this evening & seen two really bright ones and a few fainter ones (quite a bit of light pollution from street lighting here) #GeminidMeteorShower2018
— Annemarie (@Mitchambelle) December 13, 2018