Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Astronomy experts and amateurs have an opportunity to view an amazing celestial event when the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak on the night intervening December 14 and 15.With weather conditions likely to remain clear, the shooting stars would be observed from different parts of Maharashtra, said Shriniwas Aundhkar, the director of the city-based MGM APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace Science Centre and Club, on Tuesday.The moon will be in a new phase beginning on Tuesday. It will be a skinny crescent, low in the west-southwest at dusk and setting around 6.30 pm on December 14. It will make the sky dark and moonless, making for perfect viewing conditions for the meteor shower from the Gemini constellation, he said.Citing the forecast of the International Meteorological Organization, Audhkar said the number of meteors is likely to be between 100 to 130 per hour. Recent Geminid showers have seen 120–160 meteors per hour under optimal conditions, generally between 1 am and 3 am local time, he added.The Geminids are the only major meteor showers that do not originate from any comet. They are caused by the object 3200 Phaethon, which is considered a Palladian asteroid with a rock comet orbit, he said, adding that the meteor shower is expected to start towards the east in the sky and gradually move towards the west within a few hours.MGM APJ Abdul Kalam Astrospace Science Centre and Club has organized a special meteor observation mission in a remote area of the city. For registration and further details, organizers can be reached at 9850080577, it was said.We also published the following articles recentlyGeminid meteor shower and new comet-linked display to illuminate December night skyThe night of December 14 will bring a double celestial spectacle for sky gazers. The annual Geminid meteor shower will reach its peak, coinciding with the unexpected debut of a new meteor shower associated with comet 46P/Wirtanen. This year, Earth is expected to intercept a denser region of the comet cloud, potentially resulting in a unique and fascinating meteor shower. The new shower will only be visible from Oceania and Indonesia, adding to its exclusivity. Meanwhile, the Geminid meteor shower, known for its reliability, will also be at its peak on the same night.Mysterious Libyan desert glass may have originated from lost meteor impactGerman, Egyptian, and Moroccan researchers utilize cutting-edge microscopic technology to unravel the origin of Libyan desert glass, a substance found in the Great Sand Sea Desert. The glass, with high silica content and large size, has puzzled scientists for years. Recent advancements in microscopy reveal that it is a product of a meteorite impact on Earths surface. The glasss age challenges previous assumptions, and the search for the meteorites parental crater continues. This discovery sheds light on Earths geological history and celestial events.

Stay updated with all the Latest Aurangabad headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.