Geminid Meteor Shower and Rock Comets Quiz

What causes the annual Geminid meteor shower?

• A solar flare interacting with Earth's magnetic field

• The alignment of planets in the solar system

• A comet colliding with Earth's atmosphere

• Earth passing through the debris of a rock comet

How does a 'rock comet' differ from a typical comet?

• It is made entirely of ice

• It originates from the outer solar system

• It has a permanent tail of gas and dust

• It is an asteroid that gets scorched by the sun

What is unique about the orbit of 3200 Phaethon?

• It stays within the asteroid belt

• It travels beyond the orbit of Jupiter

• It never approaches the sun

• It comes deep inside the orbit of Mercury

From which constellation do Geminid meteoroids appear to originate?

• Orion

• Gemini

• Leo

• Scorpius

When is the best time to observe the Geminid meteor shower?

• At noon

• Between local midnight and sunrise

• Just after sunset

• During the afternoon