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[ad_1] In a celestial spectacle set to unfold on the night of December 14, sky gazers are in for a rare double treat as the annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak, coinciding with the unexpected debut of a new meteor shower associated with comet 46P/Wirtanen. A recent study by a team of international researchers revealed that the debris stream from 46P/Wirtanen, formed during an extra-close encounter with Jupiter half a century ago, is intersecting Earth 's path, creating what could be the first-ever meteor shower from this comet. The comet, known for its "Christmas Comet" display in 2018, has historically failed to produce significant shooting stars despite close encounters. However, this year, Earth is expected to intercept a denser region of the comet cloud, potentially resulting in a unique and fascinating meteor shower. Unlike the Geminids, which are known for their reliability and high meteor count, the new shower is estimated to peak at a modest two t...

[ad_1] Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total at a record-breaking 92. That's more than any other planet in our solar system. Saturn, the one-time leader, comes in a close second with 83 confirmed moons. The Jupiter moons were added recently to a list kept by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, said Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution, who was part of the team. They were discovered using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022, and their orbits were confirmed with follow-up observations. These newest moons range in size from 0.6 miles to 2 miles, according to Sheppard. This photo made available by NASA shows the planet Jupiter, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, on June 27, 2019.  / AP "I hope we can image one of these outer moons close-u...