Jimu News Reporter Li Wanrong
Correspondent Jia Fare
December Gemini Meteor Shower is the most anticipated event of the year. It never loses the appointment, and it will not disappoint people, bringing a perfect end to our year. This year, the Gemini meteor shower will usher in a huge magnitude on December 14.
How does Gemini meteor shower occur? How to choose the best time and location for viewing and shooting in Hubei? How to record beautiful scenery? The ancients first began to observe when meteor shower started... Jimu News reporter interviewed Zhang Huanian, associate professor of the Department of Astronomy, School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, for detailed explanations.
14 Night Gemini meteor shower "spread all over the sky"
quadrant meteor shower in January, Perseid meteor shower in August, and Gemini meteor shower in December are known as the three major meteor showers in the northern hemisphere. As the most anticipated event at the end of the year, the Gemini meteor shower is almost only observable in the northern hemisphere.
Zhongguancun Second Primary School, Haidian District, Beijing Astronomical teacher Zhu Goya took a Gemini meteor shower (multiple photos superimposed) at the Huatai Scenic Area in Fangshan, Beijing on December 14, 2015
astronomical forecast shows that this year's Gemini meteor shower ushered in a huge amount at 21:00 on December 14, with an hourly 100 zenith traffic. It is most suitable for viewing from the night of the 14th to the early morning of the 15th. Gemini meteor showers have distinct characteristics, white color, slow flow rate and bright Fire Meteor , with a long period of maximum duration, which is suitable for direct observation of the naked eye and astrophotography.
Zhang Huanian told reporters that it was a small full moon on the evening of the 14th, and the moonlight background was relatively strong. Fortunately, in most parts of Wuhan and Hubei, the moon rose at around 22:30 that night, and around 21:00 to 22:00 provide us with a very effective time window to observe the meteor shower. The meteor shower also peaked during this period, with almost 120 shots per hour.
"At this time period, you can find a dark and empty area to watch meteor showers, such as Shennongjia , Enshi Grand Canyon . This is also a good place to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and find a quiet heart." Zhang Huanian said that he reminded ordinary astronomy enthusiasts that they do not need any special equipment, just watch with their naked eyes. "Everyone can also make an appointment with three or five old friends to watch meteor showers in different directions, but at the same time, it is necessary to ensure at least one hour of observation time. Because meteor showers are not continuous, but intermittent and intermittent." Zhang Huanian said that it is impossible to observe in a brightly lit city, and the city's lighting background is too strong, enough to cover up the glory of the meteor shower.
Member of the Chinese Astronomical Society and Director of the Tianjin Astronomical Society Yang Jing filmed Gemini meteor shower (multiple photos superimposed) on December 14, 2021 at the Huangyaguan Great Wall, Jizhou District, Tianjin
How to shoot a starry sky blockbuster? Zhang Huanian introduced that meteor showers are usually fleeting, although there are a few that last for about one second by chance, which means that our camera shutter needs to be open at any time. When we see the light, we immediately click the exposure button, and we need to select a 30-second long exposure. "Since we need 30 seconds of long exposure, it is very important to choose a very dark position. During the shooting, please use a tripod, choose the maximum aperture, and have a 30 second long exposure. ISO can choose 3200 or higher." Zhang Huanian said.
How does the Gemini meteor shower come as promised?
Unlike other meteor showers originate from comet , Gemini meteor shower originates from asteroids. The asteroid was named 3200Phaethon ( Faethon and ), and was discovered by American astronomers using infrared space telescopes on October 11, 1983. Zhang Huanian introduced that unlike gas-like irregular comets, 3200 Fae is also more similar to rock spheres, with a diameter of about 5.1 kilometers, which is about east-west distance between Huazhong University of Science and Technology campus, and its orbit is between Mercury and Mars .
In mid-December every year, this asteroid passes through the near earth. The rock remains scattered on its orbit will enter the Earth's atmosphere, rub against the atmosphere, generate high temperatures, emit strong light, and then form a meteor shower.Since the radiation point of this meteor shower is near Gemini , it is called Gemini meteor shower. The Gemini meteor shower comes to Earth every year and the number of meteors. It is the most stable meteor shower of the year. Therefore, it is called the "most trustworthy meteor shower" by netizens and will not disappoint the waiting astronomy enthusiasts.
Gemini meteor shower (multiple photos superimposed) taken by Liu Chengshan, a astronomical enthusiast in Heilongjiang Province on December 13, 2021 in Daqing City, Heilongjiang Province
It is reported that there are more than 40 known meteor showers, including more famous meteor showers that contain more bright meteors, that is, more than 10 so-called "big meteor showers", such as the Perseid meteor showers, which are known as the "three major meteor showers in the northern hemisphere", Quadrant meteor showers, and Gemini meteor showers.
Zhang Huanian added that generally speaking, the higher the Gemini rises in the sky, the more Gemini meteors we can see. But this time the Gemini meteor shower radiation point, that is, the point where the meteors start to "appear" in the sky, almost coincides with one of the Gemini stars Castor. Of course, this is a perfect coincidence, because the star Castor is close to 52 light years from our Earth, and the meteors enter the atmosphere and emit heat when they are 100km high on the Earth's surface.
(Picture source: Xinhua News)
(Source: Jimu News)
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