| Geminids (GEM) | |
|---|---|
 The Geminids meteor shower as seen from the Northern Hemisphere, in December 2013 | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒɛmənədz/ |
| Discovery date | 1862[1] |
| Parent body | 3200 Phaethon[2] |
| Radiant | |
| Constellation | Gemini (nearCastor) |
| Right ascension | 07h 28m[2] |
| Declination | +32°[2] |
| Properties | |
| Occurs during | 4 December – 17 December[2] |
| Date of peak | 14 December[2] |
| Velocity | 35[3] km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | 120[2] |
| See also:List of meteor showers | |
TheGeminids are a prolificmeteor shower with3200 Phaethon (which is thought to be anApollo asteroid[4] with a "rock comet" orbit.[5]) being the parent body.[6] Because of this, it would make this shower, along with theQuadrantids, the only major meteor showers not originating from acomet. Themeteors from this shower are slow, they can be seen in December and usually peak around December 4–16, with the date of highest intensity being the morning of December 14. Current showers produce up to 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, peaking around 2:00 or 3:00. Geminids were first observed in 1862,[1] much later than other showers such as thePerseids (36 AD) andLeonids (902 AD).
Based on data from theParker Solar Probe, a 2023 study suggested that the Geminids may have been formed by the catastrophic breakup of a comet that formed asteroids2005 UD and 1999 YC in addition to Phaethon.[7][8]
The Geminid meteor shower is unique among celestial events as it originates not from a comet but from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, discovered on Oct. 11, 1983, by theInfrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). Phaethon's 1.4-year orbit around theSun and its comet-like elliptical trajectory have led scientists to speculate if it is a "dead comet" or a distinct celestial entity known as a "rock comet." Despite its comet-like orbit, Phaethon lacks a cometary tail and exhibits spectra resembling a rocky asteroid. The Geminid meteoroids formed from Phaethon are denser (2–3 g/cm3) than typical cometary dust flakes (0.3 g/cm3). Named after theGreek mythological figure who drove the Sun-god Helios' chariot, Phaethon's discovery was attributed to astronomer Fred Whipple.[9]
The meteors in this shower appear to come from theradiant in the constellationGemini (hence the shower's name). However, they can appear almost anywhere in the night sky, and often appear yellowish in hue. Well north of the equator, the radiant rises about sunset, reaching a usable elevation from the local evening hours onwards. In the southern hemisphere, the radiant appears only around local midnight or so. Observers in the northern hemisphere will see higher Geminid rates as the radiant is higher in the sky.[10] The meteors travel at medium speed in relation to other showers, at about 22 miles per second (35 km/s), making them fairly easy to spot. They usually fall apart while at heights above 24 miles (39 km).[11]
| Year | Peak of shower | ZHRmax | Lunar phase[12] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | December 14 | 132[13] | 33%waning crescent |
| 2007 | December 14 | 170[14] | 30%waxing crescent |
| 2008 | December 13 | 114[15] | 95%full moon |
| 2009 | December 14 | 140[16] | 9%new moon |
| 2010 | December 14 | 126[17] | 59%first quarter |
| 2011 | December 14 | 193[18] | 86%waning gibbous |
| 2012 | December 13 | 134[19] | 2% new moon |
| 2013 | December 14 | 172[20] | 92%full moon |
| 2014 | December 13 | 168[21] | 50%last quarter |
| 2015 | December 14 | 203[22] | 10%waxing crescent |
| 2016 | December 14 | 157[23] | 100%full moon |
| 2017 | December 14 | 145[24] | 13%waning crescent |
| 2018 | December 14 | 155±9[25][26] | 41%waxing crescent |
| 2019 | December 14 | 111[27] | 94%waning gibbous |
| 2020 | December 14 | 133[28] | 2%waning crescent |
| 2021 | December 14 | 128[29] | 73%waxing gibbous |
| 2022 | December 14 | 113[30] | 72%waning gibbous |
| 2023 | December 14 | 92[31] | 0%waxing crescent |
| 2024 | December 13-14[32] | 112[33] | 99%waxing gibbous |
| 2025 | December 14[34] | 150 | 26%waning crescent |
| By name |
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| By peak date | 
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