Dear folks of the internet, in case Facebook hasn’t notified you already, there’s going to be a meteor shower tonight and it can be observed in the north-eastern skies across the country. But you might have to head out of the polluted/cloudy/glaring city skies to grab an eyeful, according to Director, M P Birla Planetarium, Debiprosad Duari.
“This year the Geminid meteor shower is predicted to peak on the night of 13 December and the early morning of 14 December. The shower will start at around 10 pm on 13 December when the Gemini constellation will be visible in the north-eastern sky, a little above and right of the familiar Orion constellation,” Duari said.
The best time to enjoy the shower, according to experts, would be at around 2 am on 14 December, when the Gemini constellation will be almost overhead and the number of meteors can reach up to 120 per hour.
“Though the meteors tend to originate from the Gemini constellation, they can be observed from most parts of the sky. Since the meteors are relatively slow moving, the bright streaks of light will be easily visible and one does not need a binocular or telescope for enjoying the show while lying on an open ground away from city lights,” he said.
So pack your sleeping bags, tripod stands, tents and mats and head out in the open spaces close to you. Parking on the roof of your city homes might not be enough. And here’s where you can head.
MUMBAI
- Karnala
- Igatpuri
- Malshej Ghat
- Bhandardara
- Mahabaleshwar
DELHI
- Kuchesar Mud Fort. Kuchesar Mud Fort
- Vrindavan. Vrindavan
- Neemrana Fort Palace
- Murthal
- Bharatpur
BENGALURU
- Ramanagaram
- Nandi Hills
- Savandurga
- Anthargange
- Shivanasamudram
KOLKATA
- Bishnupur
- Piyali Island
- Mukutmanipur
- Bakkhali
