Unraveling the Mysteries of the Geminids Meteor Shower

 The Geminids, a spectacular winter celestial event, captivates as they streak across our planet's night sky, offering one of the most remarkable meteor showers. The origin of these Geminids, previously a puzzle, has now been unraveled through the Parker Solar Probe mission. This investigation unveiled that a catastrophic and violent event is behind their creation, unlike the typical meteor showers that originate from comets composed of ice and dust.

Comets, as they approach the sun, lose ice which then transforms into gas, leaving behind dust particles. This repeated process consequently fills the comet's orbit with material, which, when intersected by Earth, results in a meteor shower. The Geminids, however, are believed to have originated from an asteroid named 3200 Phaethon - a body made of rock and metal. This discovery has left scientists intrigued, as asteroids like Phaethon are not typically influenced by the sun's heat as comets are.

The enigma lies in the fact that Phaethon, although an asteroid, displays temperature-driven activity as it orbits close to the sun – a trait uncommon amongst asteroids. 

This study further elaborates on previous research carried out by the Parker Solar Probe mission team to comprehend the structure and behaviour of the extensive dust cloud present in the innermost Solar System. Utilizing Parker's unique flight path, which brings it closer to the Sun than any other spacecraft in history, scientists were able to directly observe the dust grains released by passing comets and asteroids.

Although the Parker Solar Probe lacks an instrument specifically designed to measure the mass, composition, speed, and direction of dust grains, it can detect dust grains that hit the spacecraft along its path. These high-speed impacts produce electrical signals and small plasma clouds, which are picked up by the probe's FIELDS instrument that measures electric and magnetic fields near the Sun.

To comprehend the Geminids' origin, scientists used Parker's data to simulate three possible formation scenarios and compared them with existing models based on Earth observations. This comparison revealed that the models suggesting a sudden and forceful event like a high-speed collision or gas explosion were more in line with Parker's data. Thus, it's probable that such an event is responsible for the meteor stream's formation.

References: NASA

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