During the capture of the Gemini meteor shower in 2017, the movement of asteroid 3200 Phaethon is captured. The Gemini meteor shower is a cosmic show that can be observed every December. This year, it is possible to observe it from Dec. 13 to 14./Courtesy of Mikiyo Sato

3200 Phaethon is an asteroid that was first discovered in 1983. Its orbital period is about 524 days, during which it comes close to Earth once. The Geminid meteor shower, visible from Earth every December, occurs as a result of the dust and rocks shed by 3200 Phaethon. The author captured the fast-moving 3200 Phaethon while photographing the Geminid meteor shower on Dec. 13, 2017. At that time, 3200 Phaethon was approaching Earth more closely than ever before. In the bottom left of the photo, the traces left by 3200 Phaethon as it moved appear like a short line. This year's Geminid meteor shower can be observed from the night of the 13th to the 14th. The zenith hourly rate (ZHR) is about 150 meteors.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.