The best meteor shower of the year will be visible across
New Zealand skies from Sunday night.
The annual meteor
shower the Geminids, named after the constellation Gemini,
comes from dust and debris left behind by the 3200 Phaethon
asteroid.
Te Whatu Stardome astronomer Josh Aoraki
said it occurred roughly the same time each year, in mid
December.
“It is basically Earth passing through a
trail of debris which has been left behind by an asteroid
and those little bits of rock and dust and ice fall into the
atmosphere, that gives us the meteors or shooting stars, as
they’re commonly known.”
While other meteor showers
occurred, Aoraki said the Geminids were quite visible and
consistent.
Those wanting to spot them should aim to
have a clear and unobstructed view of the sky looking
northeast, with the best chance Monday morning between 2am
and
sunrise.
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