Geminid Meteor Shower Viewing Event Scheduled To Be Held In Durham
Durham, NC – A Geminid Meteor Shower Viewing will be hosted by Durham Parks and Recreation, in coordination with the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, on Thursday-Friday, December 13-14, from 8 pm – 3 am.
The event will be held at Durham Parks and Recreation’s new Environmental Education Pavilion housed at the historic West Point on the Eno at 5253 N. Roxboro Road.
Participants will view one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. Annual meteor showers arise when the Earth passes through streams of debris left behind by space objects like comets or asteroids.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the showers are high concentrations of meteors, or shooting stars – space rock or debris falling “through a planet’s atmosphere, leaving a bright trail as they are heated to incandescence by the friction of the atmosphere.”
Participants will enjoy the viewing and educational activities from 8 pm – 10 pm. Beginning at 10 pm, they can grab a cup of hot chocolate and watch the Geminids at their peak, with up to 120 meteors per hour.
This is a free drop-in program, no pre-registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For information visit DPRPlayMore.org or call Ryan Sailstad at (919) 560-4405.
About Durham Parks and Recreation
Durham Parks and Recreation provides opportunities for the Durham community to Play More by connecting our whole community to wellness, the outdoors, and lifelong learning. To learn more about Durham Parks and Recreation, visit us online, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or call (919) 560-4355.
About Morehead Planetarium
To serve North Carolina and beyond by bringing together the unique resources of UNC to engage the public for an improved public understanding of science, technology, and health. For more information, call 919-962-3651.
Photo: Courtesy of WOWT.com