Which asteroid is identified as the unique parent body for the Geminids meteor shower?
Answer
3200 Phaethon
Analyzing the consistent colors observed across multiple meteors within a shower provides crucial data about the original parent body, as all debris shares the same chemical origin. The Geminids shower is unique in astronomical observations because its debris originates from an asteroid rather than the more common cometary source material. Specifically, the parent body responsible for the Geminids is identified as the asteroid named 3200 Phaethon. The resulting multi-colored streaks—often showing white, yellow, and sometimes green or blue-green—are consistent with the rocky composition of 3200 Phaethon, which is rich in elements like iron and sodium.
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