Moon addicts and astronomy lovers alike will be thrilled to know that the last Supermoon of 2016 is almost upon us. And the best thing of it all is that this time around, it will coincide with the Geminid meteor shower.
The combination of both events will make for a cosmic show not to be missed.
The meteor shower, which is visible every December, takes its name because it appears to radiate from the constellation Gemini. Astronomers believe that the Geminids is the result of debris shed from an asteroid-like object called 3200 Phaethon.
Geminids events usually feature brightly coloured streaks across the night sky, sometimes with as many as 120 shooting fireballs per hour. The dazzling display is best seen on a dark and moonless sky, so this year’s Supermoon is likely to dull the show somewhat.
Nevertheless, look skyward on the evening of Tuesday, December 13, as you are likely to see something amazing, providing the skies are clear, of course.