The sky is witnessing the Geminid meteor shower today

Director of the International Astronomy Center and a member of the International Meteor Organization, Engineer Muhammad Shawkat Odeh, confirmed that the skies of the Arab region will witness this evening the Geminid meteor shower, which is considered one of the best and most abundant annual meteor showers. He explained that the activity of this shower is repeated annually during the period from December 4 to 17, and reaches its peak on December 14, as the peak of activity this year will occur tomorrow morning at 08:00 GMT.
He explained that the name Geminid meteor shower is due to the fact that its apparent source is located in the Geminid constellation, indicating that these meteors are the result of an asteroid known as “Phethon,” which sometimes behaves similar to a comet, as dust grains escape from it that remain in its orbit, and when the Earth passes through this orbit annually, these grains burn up upon entering the atmosphere, forming meteors that can be seen with the naked eye.
He stressed that meteors do not pose any danger to the surface of the Earth, as they disappear completely before arriving, but they may represent a limited danger to satellites due to their high speed, as very small particles can cause an impact on the sensitive devices of satellites during the passage of strong meteor showers.
Odeh pointed out that the period from this evening until tomorrow is the most appropriate for observing these meteors, especially with the absence of the moon from the sky for most of the night, which provides ideal conditions for viewing. He pointed out that the Geminid meteors are distinguished by their high density and quality compared to other meteor showers, as their speed reaches about 35 kilometers per second, which is a relatively slow speed that makes the meteors visible for a longer period as they cross the sky.
Odeh stated that the number of meteors during the peak period may reach about 120 meteors per hour when observed from completely dark places, while the number of visible meteors inside cities is not expected to exceed ten meteors per hour in the best of circumstances, indicating that the ideal rate for this shower remains high, reaching about 100 or more meteors per hour for a period ranging between 10 and 12 hours around the peak time.
He called on amateur astronomers and those interested in observing astronomical phenomena to choose dark locations far from city lights, and to start observing from nine o’clock in the evening, with the number of meteors gradually increasing after midnight until just before dawn. He also recommended directing the gaze away from the “Twins” constellation by about 45 degrees, and at a similar height above the horizon, because of this’s role in improving viewing opportunities.