Why is viewing the Geminids after midnight often crucial for maximizing visible streaks?
Answer
The Earth has rotated into the densest part of Phaethon's debris stream
For observers, especially in the Northern Hemisphere where the radiant appears in the evening, the best period for viewing the Geminids extends well past midnight and into the hours leading up to dawn. This timing is not arbitrary; it is when the Earth's position in its orbit ensures it is traveling through the thickest concentration of debris shed by 3200 Phaethon. Being positioned in this denser material significantly increases the frequency and count of visible meteor streaks compared to earlier evening hours.
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