MSGID: 1:153/757.0 4ba76466   
   TZUTC: -0800   
   CHRS: LATIN-1 2   
                           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   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,   
                              NASA Science Activation   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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