Saturday 14 / December / 2024
Muscat: The skies of the Sultanate of Oman are set to witness the Geminid meteor shower, peaking on the night of Friday, December 13th, and the morning of Saturday, December 14th, 2024.
Ryan bint Saeed Al Ruwaishdi, a member of the Oman Astronomical Society, explained that this month's celestial event is known as the Geminids due to its apparent origin in the constellation Gemini. While the full moon may obscure some of the fainter meteors, the Geminids are renowned for their brightness and frequency, promising a captivating display.
In 2020, the Oman Astronomical Society observed a breathtaking 1,063 meteors in just 6 hours during the Geminid peak, with a staggering rate of 227 meteors per hour at its zenith.
The source of the Geminid meteor shower is the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, discovered in 1983 by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). As Earth passes through the debris trail left by Phaethon, these particles burn up in our atmosphere, creating the dazzling streaks of light we call meteors.
These meteors are relatively slow-moving, allowing for a longer and more leisurely viewing experience. They often exhibit a range of colors, including yellow, green, and blue, as different elements in the meteoroids burn up at varying rates.
In addition to the Geminid meteor shower, stargazers can also enjoy the sight of numerous bright stars, including the Heart of Leo, Sirius, Canopus, Aldebaran, Al-Ayyuk, as well as the constellations Gemini and Taurus, and the Pleiades star cluster. Several planets, including Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, will also be visible in the night sky.
To maximize your viewing experience, find a dark, open location away from light pollution. Look towards the eastern horizon before dawn. No special equipment is needed; the naked eye is sufficient to witness this celestial spectacle.
