Meteor Shower Expected To Peak Overnight On Dec. 13-14
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There's supposed to be a beautiful show in the sky tonight.
According to science news website EarthSky.org, the 2013 Geminid meteor shower is expected to peak overnight on Dec. 13-14 and will be visible throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
EarthSky says the meteor shower happens annually when Earth crosses the orbital path of the asteroid Phaethon, and the debris from Phaethon then crashes into Earth's atmosphere "to vaporize as colorful Geminid meteors."
Despite the amount of moonlight present in the sky tonight, those who'd like to watch the shower and can find a spot away from city lights can expect to see up to 50 or more meteors per hour.
The meteor shower starts mid-to-late evening and peaks sometime after midnight on Dec. 14th.
