Meteors result from particles of dust causing the atmosphere to glow as the particles enter the upper atmosphere of the Earth.  Following over a century of searching, astronomers in 1983 determined that the parent body for the debris that causes the Geminids is the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.  This is a bit unusual since most meteor showers are caused by debris from comets, not asteroids.  Nevertheless, as Phaethon orbits the Sun, it sheds dust particles that remain as a trail of debris in its path.  Since the Earth encounters this trail of debris at the same point in space each time it makes its annual revolution around the Sun, we observe the Geminids on the same date each year, around December 13-14. 

In 2008 the Geminids should reach a peak of about 120 meteors per hour at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 13.  The Geminid Meteor Shower is one of the more reliable showers and we should see some Geminids for a couple of mornings before the 13th and a morning or two afterwards.  Successful observing of the Geminids can start as early as 10 p.m. and continue until dawn as the constellation of Gemini the twins rises higher in the sky.  One should observe from a clear, dark location with a good horizon.  Look high in the northeast for meteors appearing to radiate out of Gemini.  Binoculars or telescopes are not needed to observe meteors.  Unfortunately, this year we will have a full moon on December 12 so moonlight will interfere with observations of fainter meteors. 

If it’s cloudy, try picking up TV stations miles away by reflecting the TV signal off the ionized particles left in the meteor’s trail?  For more details on this aspect of meteor observing visit PARI at http://www.pari.edu/telescopes/RadioTelescopes/meteors/.
 
About PARI:  PARI is a not-for-profit foundation established in 1998.  Located in the Pisgah Forest southwest of Asheville, NC, PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research.  The institute is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI, and is a member of the NC Grassroots Museum Collaborative.  For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.