Sign up for an overnight camp in Neral to see the striking Geminid meteor shower
Of the seven odd meteor showers that you can spot in the dark skies every year, the highlight is the annual Geminid meteor shower. Named after the Gemini constellation, it's one of the few showers associated with an asteroid and not a comet. "This particular shower has a large density of dust particles.
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They are slow-moving, and you can spot 25 to 40 meteorites per hour with your naked eye," informs Milind Kale, member of Khagol Mandal, a voluntary organisation established in 1985 that conducts stargazing events regularly.
While the shower peaks on December 14, it lasts till December 16. So, this weekend, the team has organised an overnight experience at Saguna Baug, a farmhouse in Neral with an open ground, where stargazers can curl up in sweaters on mattresses and spot the cosmic debris. "We selected this location because it's away from city limits and offers a clear, pitch-dark sky. Lonavala, Matheran, Bhandardhara dam and the slopes of the Sahyadris are some other locations from where you can get a clear view of the shower," adds Kale.
On : December 16, 7 pm MEETING POINT Nirman Park Society, Neral.
Email : abhay@khagolmandal.com
Cost : Rs.400 (200 extra for dinner)
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