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Second Meteor Shower Might Join Geminids This Week

NASA says second comet could produce up to 30 meteors per hour.

 

Sky watchers in Crystal Lake and Cary may get a double show Thursday and Friday night.

NASA scientists say a second meteor shower may appear near the constellation Pisces, according to NASA Science News. The shower could be active at the same time as the anticipated

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The source of the new shower is Comet Wirtanen, according to  Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Cooke recommends sky watchers have a "meteor night" after sunset on Thursday, Dec. 13, when the criss-crossing debris streams could produce the greatest combined number of shooting stars.

He said meteors from the new shower, if they appear, would be visible in the early evening, while the Geminds would be more visible later in the evening up until dawn.

Find out what's happening in Crystal Lake-Carywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Geminids are in the east sky, while the new shower would be in the south sky. Astronomists are waiting to name the shower to see if meteors actually materialize.

The forecast for Crystal Lake and Cary on Thursday night is mostly clear and a new moon phase will help with visibility in the night sky.


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