What is the Geminids meteor shower?

What is the Geminids meteor shower?

Subject: Science and Technology

Context:

• This year, the Geminids peaked around December 13-14.

About Geminids meteor shower:

• The meteor shower is coined ‘Geminid’ because according to NASA, the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini.
• The Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s.
• The Geminids meteor shower peaks during mid-December each year,

Features:

• They are considered to be one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers.
• They are bright and fast meteors and tend to be yellow in colour.
• They are unique because, unlike most meteor showers, they originate not from a comet, but from an asteroid, the 3200 Phaethon. 
  • The 3200 Phaethon was discovered on October 11, 1983.
  • It is named after the Greek mythology character Phaethon, son of the Sun God Helios.
  • It takes 1.4 years to complete one round of the Sun.

About Meteors:

• Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from asteroids. 
• When these objects come around the Sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them.
• Every year Earth passes through these debris trails, which allows the bits to collide with our atmosphere where they disintegrate to create fiery and colourful streaks in the sky.