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Source Uncovered for the Famous Geminids Meteor Shower

The wintry meteor show may have had its origins from a catastrophic event, the remains of which are still spread across the solar system.

By Matt Hrodey
Jun 20, 2023 2:00 PM
Geminids orbit
The Geminids meteors orbit the sun and swing out into the solar system. (Credit: NASA/John Hopkins APL/Ben Smith)

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A mainstay of the December night sky, the Geminids meteor shower first appeared in the mid-1800s, and it’s grown more impressive in the ensuing years. It now features up to 120 meteorites an hour given clear skies.

A new study may have found that the shower originated in some type of catastrophic collision. This differentiates it from most showers, which come from icy comets that pass close to the sun, that then melts and releases particles.

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