Nell Greenfield Boyce
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The annual Geminid meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid.
That debris hits our atmosphere and produces bright streaks of light.
Like the summertime Perseids, this meteor shower produces a good number of shooting stars.
It just happens when it's a lot colder outside.
Still, if you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust.
Some of the best viewing will be late at night before the crescent moon rises.
Or once the moon is up, you can keep your back to it so that its light won't swap out your view.
Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News.
The annual Geminid meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through a field of tiny particles left behind by an asteroid.
That debris hits our atmosphere and produces bright streaks of light.
Like the summertime Perseids, this meteor shower produces a good number of shooting stars.
It just happens when it's a lot colder outside.
Still, if you can brave the cold, find a dark spot and give your eyes plenty of time to adjust.
Some of the best viewing will be late at night before the crescent moon rises.
Or once the moon is up, you can keep your back to it so that its light won't swap out your view.
Nell Greenfield-Boyce, NPR News.
The palm-like plants, called cycads, live in the tropics.
They make pollen and seeds in long, pinecone-like structures, and the plant can heat these cones up.