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Explanation: This picture was supposed to feature a comet. Specifically, a series of images of the brightest comet of 2021 were being captured: Comet Leonard. But the universe had other plans. Within a fraction of a second, a meteor so bright it could be called a fireball streaked through just below the comet. And the meteor's flash was even more green than the comet's coma. The cause of the meteor's green was likely magnesium evaporating from the meteor's pebble-sized core, while the cause of the comet's green was likely diatomic carbon recently ejected from the comet's city-sized nucleus. The images...

It's one of the brightest annual displays. Stargazers are in for a treat this December as one of the brightest annual displays is expected to light up the sky. The Geminid meteor shower can be seen between the 4th and the 17th of December, peaking on Saturday 14th when around 120 meteors will be expected to be visible per hour. Thanks to the brightness of the individual meteors, it's considered to be one of the best to observe. "In December every year, the Earth crosses the orbital path of the Apollo asteroid 3200 Phaethon. As the asteroid’s orbit takes it...

YouTube Video of Dashcam YT Commenter Thomas Bunce: "The Geminid meteor shower peak was a few days ago and this is probably one of them based on it coming from the east. The early evening sunlight really lights it up well. Since it was seen all over CA it was up high to be that visible, again indicating a meteor. Nice Catch!" Also a Reddit thread by u/sweeteleven: Anyone know what this white flare is?

Based on the flash brightness and duration of the St. Pat’s Day smack, the space boulder measured between one to 1.5 feet long (0.3-0.4 meters) and struck the moon traveling at 56,000 mph with a force of 5 tons of TNT. Scientists predicted then that the impact could produce a crater up to 65 feet (20 meters) in diameter.Before and after views of the March 17, 2013 impact taken by the LRO camera. Fine streams of debris reach to the edges of the frame. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

Skywatchers, grab your blankets. December's night sky spectacular will feature the best meteor shower of 2010 as well as the only total lunar eclipse of the year -- sights that should outshine any New Year's Eve fireworks display in terms of sheer wonder. The massive Geminid meteor shower returns every year, so you'll have more chances if the cold proves too daunting on the night of Dec. 13. But anyone in North America who skips the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 will be missing what promises to be the best lunar eclipse show until April...

The Geminid meteor shower—considered by many to be the most active annual sky show—is going to be especially spectacular this year, astronomers predict. The show gets its name from the constellation Gemini, because the meteors appear to stream from near the constellation's bright star Castor. Unlike last year, the Geminids will be falling against a dark, moonless night. The last time the sky was this dark during the shower was in 1996, when observers saw up to 110 meteors an hour. Experts say the rate will be at least that high this year, with peak viewing on December 13 and...

Geminid meteors seen striking the Moon 17:13 05 January 2007 NewScientist.com news service Kelly Young Two small NASA telescopes with their lenses trained on the Moon spied five, and possibly six, Geminid meteoroids striking the lunar surface early on the morning of 14 December. The observations will help NASA design safe shelters for its future Moon base. On Earth, most meteors burn up as they crash through the atmosphere. The Moon's atmosphere is negligible, however, so the largest of the space rocks crash into its surface with the force of 8-tonne bombs. "We hope to learn how often big rocks...

A meteor shower that had some startled motorists calling police is expected to continue over the next few days. Saturday night's light show was part of the Geminids meteor shower, News4 reported. Montgomery and Fairfax county police, along with Dulles Airport and the space agency, NASA, received calls about the spectacle.

Modest Geminid Meteor Shower this WeekendBy Joe RaoSPACE.com's Night Sky Columnistposted: 07:00 am ET12 December 2003 The typically reliable Geminid meteor shower will peak this weekend. There will be some windows of opportunity for good viewing, but unfortunately much of the show will be seriously hindered by moonlight. A bright gibbous Moon will have already come over the east-northeast horizon by 10 p.m. on Saturday evening, Dec. 13 for most locations and will light up the sky through the rest of the overnight hours. This moonlight will overpower many of the shooting stars associated with one of the best...