Geminids meteor shower to light up Australian sky

STARGAZERS will be now able to catch the highly-anticipated Geminids meteor shower — and local conditions are near perfect, so get out your telescopes.

IF YOU’RE an avid stargazer, get ready for one of the best shows of the year.

The Geminids meteor shower — the most reliable meteor shower in the southern hemisphere — is upon us again. The annual shower can be seen from Australia between December 13 and December 16. This year’s is predicted to be one of the most dazzling in recent memory as an almost absent moon will ensure that the meteors stand out brightly as they streak across the sky.

“On average, you should see one or two meteors a minute, maybe 90 per hour under really good conditions,” said Robin Scagell, vice-president of the Society for Popular Astronomy.

“Some of the brightest meteors I’ve seen have been Geminids. They move relatively slowly across the sky so are easy to photograph, and you can get one or two fireballs among them.”

Heads-up, Earthlings! The annual Geminid meteor shower has arrived, peaking overnight Dec. 13-14. It's a good time to bundle up! Then, go outside and let the universe blow your mind! Get the details: https://t.co/7RiS9AoCaF pic.twitter.com/6aYshYCqef

— NASA (@NASA) December 12, 2017

But to get the perfect view you’ll need to be dedicated because according to astronomers, the best time to witness the shower is between 3:30am and 4:00am (AEDT) when it is higher above the horizon.

Looking towards the constellation of Orion and the nearby Pleiadies or the “Seven Sisters” star cluster should likely provide the best view, according to experts.

Unlike a majority of meteor showers that are caused by the dust and debris left over from passing comets, the Geminids meteor shower is made up of the debris shed by a weird, rocky asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, which has a comet-like orbit.

The Geminids can be seen from Earth each December when our planet passes through the massive trail of dusty debris shed by 3200 Phaethon.

And if you have a telescope, you’ll also be able to catch a rare glimpse of the rocky object responsible for the show, which is still the subject of debate among scientists.

“Phaethon’s nature is debated,” said Bill Cooke from NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “It’s either a near-Earth asteroid or an extinct comet, sometimes called a rock comet.”

Either way, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of its handiwork over the next couple nights.

— With AAP