Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2024 December 12
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                              Phaethon's Brood
   Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Mikiya Sato ([5]Nippon Meteor Society)

   Explanation: Based on its well-measured orbit, [6]3200 Phaethon (sounds
   like FAY-eh-thon) is recognized as the source of the meteoroid stream
   responsible for the annual [7]Geminid meteor shower. Even though most
   meteor shower parents are comets, 3200 Phaethon is a known and
   [8]closely tracked near-Earth asteroid with a 1.4 year orbital period.
   [9]Rocky and sun-baked, its [10]perihelion or closest approach to the
   Sun is well within the orbit of innermost planet Mercury. In this
   telescopic field of view, the asteroid's rapid motion against faint
   background stars of the heroic constellation Perseus left a short trail
   during the two minute total exposure time. The (faint) parallel streaks
   of its meteoric children flashed much more quickly across the scene.
   The family portrait was recorded near the Geminid meteor shower's very
   active peak on 2017 December 13. That was just three days before
   [11]3200 Phaethon's historic [12]close approach to planet Earth. This
   year, the night of December 13 should again see the peak of the Geminid
   meteor shower, but faint meteors will be washed out by the bright light
   of the nearly full moon.

                  Watch: [13]The 2024 Geminid Meteor Shower
                        Tomorrow's picture: deep sky
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    Authors & editors: [25]Robert Nemiroff ([26]MTU) & [27]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([28]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [29]Specific rights apply.
              [30]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [31]ASD at [32]NASA / [33]GSFC,
                         [34]NASA Science Activation
                           & [35]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2412/MSato_Phaethon-and-Geminids-v1.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. mailto: mail [at] kaicho [dot] net
   5. http://www.nms.gr.jp/en/
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3200_Phaethon
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/
   8. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia22185-arecibo-observatory-radar-imagery-of-phaethon-asteroid/
   9. https://arxiv.org/abs/1306.3741
  10. https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.07061
  11. https://www.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids-comet-like-tail-is-not-made-of-dust-solar-observatories-reveal/
  12. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/3200-phaethon/
  13. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-geminid-meteor-shower/
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241211.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  18. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  23. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=241212
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241213.html
  25. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  26. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  27. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  28. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  31. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  32. https://www.nasa.gov/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  34. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  35. http://www.mtu.edu/