`Geminids’ meteor shower to light up the Coast’s night skies

FORGET New Year’s Eve, the real fireworks to light up the night’s sky will be in the next fortnight when the Earth passes through the debris of an ancient asteroid.

This photograph of the Geminids Meteor Shower last year over the LAMOST Telescope in China earned Yu Jun the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year.

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FORGET New Year’s Eve, the real fireworks to light up the night’s sky will be in the next fortnight when the Earth passes through the debris of an ancient asteroid.

At its peak about 120 meteors an hour will trip the light fantastic as the space rocks burn up entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

Local astronomers and night sky photographers David Magro and Andrew Murrell said there were about a dozen “decent” meteor events a year but the Geminids Meteor Shower was “one of the best three”.

Night sky photographers Andrew Murrell and David Magro at Glenworth Valley where they will be holding an astro photography session for campers during the meteor shower. Picture: Troy Snook

Last year the light of the moon washed out the night sky and made the meteor shower more difficult to see.

However they said the heavens had aligned with 2017 shaping up as one of the best yet to bask in awesome wonder at the annual astral display.

The meteor shower is the result of the Earth passing through the debris trail of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon and sees up to 120 multicoloured shooting stars an hour radiating from a spot in the night sky near Gemini’s second brightest star Castor.

Mr Magro will give tips on how to take night sky pictures like this one he took of Norah Head Lighthouse beneath the Milky Way. Picture: David Magro

The Geminids event is described as probably the most reliable of the annual meteor showers and will be visible from as early as next week before peaking on December 14.

They will be visible to the naked eye as long as people find a dark spot away from street lights and other light pollution and allow their eyes to adjust for half an hour.

The Central Coast has plenty of isolated vantage points but none more devoid of light pollution than Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures where Mr Murrell and Mr Magro — who was the 2017 Exposure Photographer of the Year — will be treating campers to a free workshop.

Mr Magro’s “Field of Stars” picture saw him crowned 2017 Exposure Photographer of the Year.

Mr Murrell will bring his 18-inch (46cm) Dobsonian telescope for campers to get a close-up of the meteors and will also point out many of the other features and constellations of the night sky.

Mr Magro meanwhile will demonstrate the skills of night-sky photography, including post production techniques and said he would be happy to take a photograph of campers and their kids under the brilliant night sky — for a “selfie with the stars”.

He said he wanted to inspire a whole new generation of amateur astronomers and night sky photographers.

Glenworth Valley will be among a number of isolated spots to see the meteor shower in all its glory. Picture: Troy Snook

“There’s a rebirth of the space age,” Mr Magro said.

“It’s becoming more accessible. In years past you couldn’t take a shot with a camera and now every camera you can plonk out and get a good Milky Way shot. The sensors are getting better all the time. Now you can literally have it in the palm of your hand.”

The free workshop on December 9 is only available to campers booked to stay at Glenworth that night.