Astronomers spy Geminid meteors' dust trail in space | | The 2019 Geminid meteor shower is happening now, and it peaks this weekend. As you may know, meteors in annual showers like the Geminids are the result of Earth's encounter with trails of dust in space, left behind mainly by comets. The dust enters our atmosphere and vaporizes, producing the streaks of light we see as meteors or shooting stars. This week, astronomers at the U.S. Naval Research Lab held a press conference to discuss an actual image of a dust trail (above) left behind in space by the asteroid that spawned the Geminid meteor shower. It's none other than mysterious 3200 Phaethon, an object of great interest and speculation. Read more. | | |
Geminid meteors to peak this weekend | | Best morning is likely Saturday, but try Sunday, too. Both mornings will feature a bright moon. The shower is best around 2 a.m. Try watching from late evening until dawn. The moon is in the way. Read more. | | |
| |
Why is Mars sometimes bright and sometimes faint? | | In 2018, Mars was a blazing red dot of flame in our night sky for several months. In 2019, Mars was mostly faint. It's been hardly noticeable in our sky. Why? Why is Mars bright in some years, but faint in others? And what are the prospects for Mars in 2020? Read more. Want to see Mars this weekend? Check out the bottom chart, below. | | |
