Astronomy Information

In December we are treated to the Geminid meteor shower. This year the shower will peak at 19.00 CET (Paris, Berlin, Madrid time) during the night of the 13th to 14th. Look into the ENE quadrant from about 19.45 CET in the area of Castor and Pollux. There you should see, if the sky is clear, up to 80 meteors per hour. The 'radiant' or apparent source of the meteor shower is shown on this graphic.

In the south-east, all the month, the Comet Machholz will be visible in the evening sky. It will brighten during the month and by the 31 will be "a fine binocular object". It will move slowly from the horizon almost parallel with Orion's vertical axis, and slightly to the right (south) of Orion. The apparent path of the comet during the month is shown on the graphic.

Skymap after Skymaps.com

Page updated: 13-12-04