Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2020 December 13

                  Geminid Meteors over Xinglong Observatory
            Image Credit & Copyright: Steed Yu and NightChina.net

   Explanation: Where do Geminid meteors come from? In terms of location
   on the sky, as the featured image composite beautifully demonstrates,
   the sand-sized bits of rock that create the streaks of the Geminids
   meteor shower appear to flow out from the constellation of Gemini. In
   terms of parent body, Solar System trajectories point to the asteroid
   3200 Phaethon -- but this results in a bit of a mystery since that
   unusual object appears mostly dormant. Perhaps, 3200 Phaethon undergoes
   greater dust-liberating events than we know. Over 50 meteors including
   a bright fireball were captured during the peak of the 2015 Geminids
   Meteor Shower streaking above Xinglong Observatory in China. The
   Geminids of December are one of the most predictable and active meteor
   showers. This year's Geminids peak tonight and should be particularly
   good because, in part, the nearly new Moon will only rise toward dawn
   and so not brighten the sky.

                    Tomorrow's picture: human made meteor
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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