December offers a few meteor showers of note. However, this time of year, the nights are cold and frosty in the northern part of the world. If you decide to head out into the night air, be sure to bundle up and stay warm! Here is the viewing times for meteor showers in December 2009:
Phoenicids 5-7 December
Puppid-Velids 6-8 December
Geminids 13-15 December
Ursids 21-23 December
The more well known shower for December are the Geminds. The Geminids have an interesting distinction from all other meteor showers in that the Geminids meteors do not originate from an active comet. They actually the dust left from 3200 Phaeton which is classified as an extinct comet. The Geminids are also one of the more colorful showers to view, rivaling the colors brought on by the Persieds.
It is thought that 3200 Phateon once contained enough ice to produce a tail. However, 3200 Phateon does not exhibit this property anymore. The ice that was associated with this extinct comet has long since evaporated. All that remains within the core of 3200 Phateon is mostly rock. Therefore, it closely resembles and asteroid in it make-up.
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