TONIGHT: Geminid Meteor Shower peaking December 13th and 14th

The annual Geminid meteor shower is set to peak after midnight, in the early hours of December 14, 2010. Astronomers are predicting that it will be the best meteor shower of the year, with over 100 blazing meteors streaking through the sky every hour.

Geminid is the only annual meteor shower believed to come from an asteroid-like object, known as 3200 Phaethon, a three-mile-wide space rock discovered by a NASA satellite in 1983. The meteors appear to be falling from the Gemini constellation, which is the reason for its name, so be sure to face northeast for the best views of tonight's spectacle.

Here are some photos of Geminid Meteor Shower from recent years:

Zarmina's World UPDATES: Gliese 581 g News and Info

Hey Space Kids! Here are some recent news items concerning GJ58g, also known as Gliese 581 g and nicknamed Zarmina's World:

How long would it take to travel to Zarmina's World (Discover Magazine website)

Atlantic Magazine: How Gliese 581 g is NOT like Earth

NY Daily News: Expect hundreds of Earthlike planets to be discovered

Peace 2 All,

Joe

GJ 581g discovery points to universe full of Earth-like planets

The beauty of scientists finding a planet with an orbit in a statistically probable habitable zone is the "blue sky" potential of similar and greater discoveries in future years.

Scientists all over this spinning ball of blue, green and brown fun are excited about the new Gliese 581 planet nicknamed Zarmina's World, however the implications of GJ581g's discovery may indicate even more planets like ours, and provide clues as to what to look for. Gliese 581 g (GJ581g) doesn't get much warmer than -12 degrees Celsius, which is about +10 Farenheit; even though that may be habitable if the atmosphere is not toxic, the cool part is that it illustrates the parameters that may lead to locating other spheres with an even greater resemblance to our home in this Universe, usually called Earth yet nowadays increasingly known by Her earlier moniker, Gaia.

GJ581g may not be the tru Goldilocks planet (not to hot, not too cold), however she sure points the way to humans finding our Princess Goldilocks one day, perhaps not too far away from now.

News about Zarmina's World

Space.com article 12 Questions About Gliese 581 g

Wikipedia webpage Gliese 581 g

Zarmina's World; a planet we can call home?

As GJ 581 g, the new Earth-like planet discovered orbiting the red dwarf star Gliese 581, offers climate conditions wondrously similar to Gaia, we will be offering GJ 581g news, photos, images and information here on a regular basis. Stay Tuned and Bookmark this site in your fave blogs and websites, and check back often!

Zarmina's World / GJ 581g links:

Characteristics of planet GJ 581 g

Gliese 581 exoplanet GJ581g

NASA.gov Explanation of Zarmina's World GJ581 g

Astronomy Central analysis of Gliese 581g