                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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

                              Phaethon's Brood
        Image Credit & Copyright: Mikiya Sato (Nippon Meteor Society)

   Explanation: Based on its well-measured orbit, 3200 Phaethon (sounds
   like FAY-eh-thon) is recognized as the source of the meteoroid stream
   responsible for the annual Geminid meteor shower. Even though most
   meteor shower parents are comets, 3200 Phaethon is a known and closely
   tracked near-Earth asteroid with a 1.4 year orbital period. Rocky and
   sun-baked, its 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 3200 Phaethon's
   historic 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: The 2024 Geminid Meteor Shower
                        Tomorrow's picture: deep sky
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

