Swampscott After Dark
Geminid Meteor Shower 2012 and the Night Sky
The shower could be the best of the year.
This is the time of year when many people tend to look up at the sky. Even among those who do not regularly eye the night sky there are many Christians who look up when they think of the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible's nativity story. Light in general, Christmas candle light and the Festival of Lights, at Hanukkah, have people thinking about brightness. Local astronomer James Keating, who designed the sun circle at Preston Beach, has a few recommendations for people surveying the sky in the early morning hours. James says look southeast about 30 minutes before sunrise to see Mercury, Venus and Saturn. "Venus being the brightest in the middle, Saturn up to the right and Mercury down to the left of Venus," he said. "If you …
