Embrace the cosmic vibes and uncover the beauty of shooting stars
The world unfurls in a myriad of breathtaking scenes, revealing the splendour of nature to those who appreciate its grandeur.
From the untamed beauty of forests and jungles to the captivating hues that grace the horizon during sunset, there is an abundance of magnificence awaiting our observant gaze. However, beauty manifests in diverse shades and moments, whether it’s the soft glow of dawn or the profound darkness of the night.
Nature’s canvas generously imparts a touch of magic to our earthly existence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the cosmic spectacle that adorns the night sky – the Geminids meteor shower.
Imagine a night where the heavens themselves put on a dazzling light show, as streaks of celestial brilliance paint the darkness in a captivating display.
“The Geminids is one of the most active meteor showers of the year,” shared Astronomical Society of Brunei Darussalam (PABD) member Dr Roslynna binti Rosli, who has experienced three instances of the Geminids season. In comparison to other meteor showers, the Geminids stands out significantly due to the uniqueness of its origins, she added.
“Most meteor showers are associated with comets. When a comet approaches the sun, its ice vapourises, releasing debris of dust and rocky materials. This debris forms a trail along the comet’s orbit.
“When the Earth orbits through this trail, the particles collide with the Earth’s atmosphere, producing the visible streaks of light we observe as meteor showers.”
However, when it comes to the Geminids, the source of this meteor shower differs from others; originating from the remnants of an asteroid – Asteroid 3200 Phaethon – as opposed to the more common comet-induced meteor showers, continued Dr Roslynna.
“As December is a rainy month, we are at the mercy of the weather and a clear night sky. My last Geminids experience was back in 2020. We then had the COVID-19 restrictions in 2021 and the weather was not cooperating in 2022.
“So to observe the Geminids this year is long overdue and it didn’t disappoint.”
This year, Dr Roslynna observed the Geminids on three separate occasions this year, with the first occurrence taking place on December 7, which wasn’t the peak time, but the sky was clear, so she took the opportunity. She witnessed about three meteors during that session.
On the early hours of December 14, she observed the meteor shower from home and saw eight Geminids streaks in one hour. The third time was on the night of December 14 and the early hours of December 15, during its peak time.
During this observation, Dr Roslynna counted a total of 123 meteors in a span of three hours.
“The Geminids meteor shower is mesmerising and spectacular. The most memorable moment for me was when there were three bright meteors, all within a two-second duration, one after another.”
As a PABD member since 2019, Dr Roslynna has gotten accustomed to with the proper set up for astrophotography. Consequently, her preparations for this year’s Geminids season were minimal.
“I would usually quickly set up my camera and let it do its thing, checking on it intermittently. It would be nice to capture the meteors in frame but if you spend time looking down, one would usually miss what is happening up there.”
Her advice however for the general public who wish to experience the Geminids is to find a location with the least light pollution and to essentially just lie flat and look up.
“Enjoy the show! It is still Geminids season until around December 20. I would also recommend getting some sleep and enough rest beforehand, as the activities usually happen late at night into the early hours of the morning.”
She explained that for those not deeply involved in astronomy, meteor showers are usually one of the easiest celestial events to observe.
However, for aspiring astrophotographers, she suggested starting with the Milky Way as a suitable subject. The core season for capturing the Milky Way spans from the end of March to October.
“I myself started with only taking photographs of the moon, stars, and constellations before moving on to bright deep-sky objects. Of course, I am limited by my gear, but that never deterred me.
“Every month, there will always be celestial events happening, from a simple full moon, conjunction of the moon and planets or bright stars, to special events such as meteor showers and close comet approaches.
“This is also a good season to see the winter constellations and other associated asterisms, such as the Winter Triangle and Winter Circle.”
For individuals seeking updates on celestial events, the PABD regularly posts updates on their Instagram account @bruneiastronony. Budding enthusiasts can check these updates regularly for the latest information. – Wardi Wasil
