<p>Well done on your observations, I've been completely clouded out.</p>

<p>You are quite right, the Geminids are noted for a <a href="http://www.theskyscrapers.org/meteor-showers/" rel="nofollow">variety of colours</a>, and a good number of fireballs, though most observers note a <a href="http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/geminids.cfm" rel="nofollow">predominiance of yellow meteors</a> This is partly due to their composition and density (coming from a peculiar "rock comet") and partly to their velocity (35km/s) which is fairly fast. </p>

<p>There is a good chance of seeing some good trails with this shower. Brighter meteors and most fireballs will leave a trail, and the Geminids have more of these than most other showers.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T19:13:35.317Z
The night of the 12th was perfectly clear here, and about -2 degrees, so it was nice to sit out and watch. Round about 2 a minute for the first hour or so then maybe 3 or 4 a minute for the next hour. You say fast, but my perception was that they were slower and kept going a long distance. Quite a few greens. One travelled the entire length of Orion, from just off Castor down past Rigel, and then a big fireball at the end.
Rory Alsop
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-14T19:03:57.907Z
2015-12-14T19:03:57.907Z
James K
<p>Unlike all other meteor showers, which originate from comets, Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Seeing a large number of meteors last night, I noticed they seemed to be much more green than other meteors, but is there anything else I should expect to see different to other meteor showers? Brightness, size, length of trail etc?</p>

<meteor>
What visible differences do Geminids have to other meteors
Rory Alsop
# What visible differences do Geminids have to other meteors

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-13)

Unlike all other meteor showers, which originate from comets, Geminids originate from asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Seeing a large number of meteors last night, I noticed they seemed to be much more green than other meteors, but is there anything else I should expect to see different to other meteor showers? Brightness, size, length of trail etc?

**Tags:** meteor


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-14. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Well done on your observations, I've been completely clouded out.

You are quite right, the Geminids are noted for a [variety of colours](http://www.theskyscrapers.org/meteor-showers/), and a good number of fireballs, though most observers note a [predominiance of yellow meteors](http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/geminids.cfm) This is partly due to their composition and density (coming from a peculiar "rock comet") and partly to their velocity (35km/s) which is fairly fast.

There is a good chance of seeing some good trails with this shower. Brighter meteors and most fireballs will leave a trail, and the Geminids have more of these than most other showers.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: The night of the 12th was perfectly clear here, and about -2 degrees, so it was nice to sit out and watch. Round about 2 a minute for the first hour or so then maybe 3 or 4 a minute for the next hour. You say fast, but my perception was that they were slower and kept going a long distance. Quite a few greens. One travelled the entire length of Orion, from just off Castor down past Rigel, and then a big fireball at the end.  

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