The Geminid meteor shower was visible at its peak in Connecticut on Dec. 12-13, with an estimated 120 meteors per hour in dark locations, joining the list of the several meteor showers that occur annually.
This meteor shower is deemed by NASA to be one of the best and most reliable of these annual showers. The Geminids are also said to be one of the two most significant yearly meteor showers, along with the Perseids, because they typically produce notably greater amounts of meteors. Though the event was at its peak between Dec. 12-13, according to the CT Insider, it will be active until Dec. 21.
“I think the meteor shower will be really cool and I can’t wait to see it,” Sasha Hellman ’29 said. “I haven’t seen a lot of meteor showers before so this will be super fun to watch.”
According to The Planetary Society, these showers occur when debris is let off by an asteroid or a comet, creating these anticipated and predictable yearly events. When these pieces of debris burn as they hit Earth’s atmosphere, one can see the sparks of light that this phenomenon causes. Some students are unfamiliar with the event, but the phenomenon still sparks curiosity.
“I’ve never seen a meteor shower, but I’d be excited to see one,” Lucy Bughman ’28 said. “But I’m not quite sure how you do see one.”
You don’t need to be an expert nor do you need special equipment to witness one of these beautiful displays. Meteor showers are easier to spot in areas with little light pollution, as these streams are easier to see when the skies are darker. According to The Planetary Society, this also means that one will see fewer meteors if there is a full moon that night, as the sky becomes brighter. Clear skies during these events make for a beautiful wintery show.
“I saw a meteor shower when I was much younger,” Ryan Asiel ’28 said. “I will definitely be watching outside my house this weekend to see this one.”
