The country witnesses a stunning celestial spectacle as the annual Geminids meteor shower is at its peak this weekend.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said that the annual meteor shower will be active from Dec. 7 to 17.
Its peak activity is tonight until the early morning hours of tomorrow, PAGASA announced.
“Under a dark and cloudless sky and just after midnight of its peak activity, meteors or ‘falling stars’ can be seen at an average rate of 40 or more meteors per hour,” it added.
According to PAGASA, the constellation of Gemini, the Twin, is easy to spot through its two bright stars Castor and Pollux, which are just to the left of constellations Orion and Auriga.
It explained that the Geminids shower is significantly different from other meteor showers as it does not originate from a comet but from an asteroid, the 3200 Phaethon.
PAGASA noted that meteors from this shower are very rocky and gritty and slightly easier to see compared to other showers. (Alexandria San Juan)
