A rare meteor shower is expected to provide a spectacular display in the skies of New Zealand on the evening of December 12, 2023. This meteor shower
A rare meteor shower is expected to provide a spectacular display in the skies of New Zealand on the evening of December 12, 2023. This meteor shower is created from debris from Comet 46P/Wirtanen, pushed into Earth’s trajectory after passing close to Jupiter in 1974 and 1980. The debris will appear as “shooting stars,” with small rock particles heating and vaporizing as they traverse the atmosphere. This event is considered rare as it’s not an annual meteor shower, and it coincides with the well-known Geminid meteor shower, promising a unique celestial display. Skywatchers are gearing up for the event, and enthusiasts can visit fireballs.nz for tips on capturing meteor images.
