Qatar skygazers invited to witness Geminid meteor on December 13

Doha, Qatar: If you re hoping to catch a meteor shower in 2024, the Geminid meteor shower is your last chance. The Geminids have been lighting up the...

Doha, Qatar: If you’re hoping to catch a meteor shower in 2024, the Geminid meteor shower is your last chance. The Geminids have been lighting up the skies since November 19, with their peak occurring on the night of December 13. On this night, countless meteors will shoot across Qatar skies and will create a spectacular view for stargazing.

NASA describes the Geminids as “one of the best and most reliable annual meteor showers,” with up to 120 meteors visible per hour under perfect conditions. “The Geminids are bright and fast meteors, usually appearing yellow,” according to the space agency.

Unlike most meteor showers that come from comets, the Geminids are caused by debris from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. As Earth moves through Phaethon’s dust trail each year, tiny meteoroids burn up in our atmosphere, creating the bright streaks of light we see as meteors.

Ajith Everester, an astrophotographer and founder of Everester Observatory, told The Peninsula, “The moon will be 96% full on December 13, which will make it harder to see the fainter meteors. However, the bright meteors will still be visible, making it a spectacular sight.”