As meteor showers go, the Geminids are often among the best on our annual calendar. The December shower - which peaks on Saturday the 13th going into Sunday the 14th - offers more opportunities to see meteors than most.
If you are going to brave the cold for the Geminids, Bob King recommends plenty of insulation and a comfortable, reclinable chair.
But meteors aren't the only thing falling from the sky. This past weekend, there were several reports of a fireball burning across the Northland sky. But what was it?
After reviewing video of the event and a bit of research, the consensus is that the fireball was a Starlink satellite returning to earth. As old satellites are replaced by new ones, the obsolete versions are brought back to Earth. As many as two per day are being taken out of commission and called back home.
You can hear Astro Bob's Backyard Astronomy every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
