While space experts are predicting a grand performance from the
annual Geminid meteor shower this week– thanks in large measure
to the moon being a no show – there may be an extra skywatching
surprise. Russian astronomer Mikail Maslov has come up with
computer models that are predicting a never-before-seen meteor
shower peaking the same time the Geminids! If his calculations
are on the mark – observers may see rates of about 30 meteors
per hour – on top of the 100 or so per hour from the Geminids on
Dec.13th – making this potentially quite a cosmic fireworks
show. The source of this new shower is the Comet Wirtanen,
discovered back in 1948. This icy visitor has a 5 year orbit
around the Sun and continually sheds material from it surface
whenever it approaches. This debris has spread out in a stream
that follows the comet’s path and now these new predictions
indicate that Earth will be crossing as many as 4 times through
this cometary debris trail from Dec.10 to Dec.14. Like with
other meteor showers, when the