Exact time uncommon meteor bathe will mild up Britain’s darkest corners this weekend
Brits have the best opportunity to witness the year’s biggest meteor shower with their own eyes. The Geminids meteor shower, known for its reliability and spectacle, typically peaks in mid-December each year.
Under ideal conditions, up to 120 Geminid meteors can be seen per hour. These bright, fast meteors often appear yellow. Unlike most meteor showers that originate from comets, the Geminids come from an asteroid: 3200 Phaethon. This asteroid orbits the sun, leaving a trail of tiny debris that vaporises in Earth’s atmosphere, creating bright light streaks known as meteors that travel across the sky at approximately 22 miles per second.
The optimal time to view the Geminids this year will be on the evening of December 14th, with no need for binoculars. The shower is ideal for younger viewers as it starts from 9pm onwards.
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To help aspiring astronomers, travel experts at Saga Holidays have compiled a list of the top ten locations in the UK for the clearest possible views of the night sky. The top 10 sites are South Downs National Park, Cranborne Chase, North Yorkshire Moors, Northumberland National Park, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor National Park, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), and Galloway Forest Park.
A recent study examining the top stargazing spots worldwide has considered light pollution and cloud cover. Dr Sheona Urquhart, a lecturer in astrophysics, stated: “There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to the best locations for stargazing. The obvious one would be darkness – the darker the better really. Altitude also helps as you can get above the clouds to see the clearest views.”
“You also don’t need fancy equipment, you’d be amazed at what you can see with a decent set of binoculars, or even with your naked eye on clear nights. These dark sky areas allow everyone, from the professional to the amateur to get out there, see the wonders of the night sky with their own eyes.”
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