Glorious Geminids Traditional Cache
Ngaambul: Unfortunately there was no response (or regular update) from the owner within the time requested and as per the original note this cache has been archived. If you wish to replace it please submit a new cache via this link.
Ngaambul - Matt
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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Meteor showers occur when the Earth, on its orbit around the sun, passes through a swathe of debris left behind by one of the solar system’s small bodies. In most cases, the parent object is a comet, but in the case of the Geminids the parent is actually a disintegrating asteroid named 3200 Phaethon.
Phaethon is a small, rocky object that has a remarkably eccentric orbit, which brings it closer to the sun than any other named asteroid.
At perihelion, it is just 20 million kilometres from the sun (well inside the orbit of Mercury) and its surface bakes in the daytime and freezes at night. With a rotation period of less than four hours, the constantly alternating extremes of temperature takes its toll on the asteroid’s surface.
The continual expansion and contraction causes Phaethon’s rocky surface to fracture and break. As these fragments are shed, they tend to spread around the asteroid’s orbit. It is this debris stream that Earth passes through to create the annual Geminid meteor shower.
On December 15, 2015, we headed out to Lake George to find an optimal viewing spot, away from the city lights from which we could view the meteor shower. We set up in the paddock yonder with a picnic blanket, pillow, blankets, bottle of wine and picnic dinner. For the next few hours we watched the meteors shower around us, whilst tracking an electrical storm on the horizon. We eventually fell asleep and woke in the early hours, covered in dew and headed home, sleepy but happy, having been out in nature, observing our beloved stars and enjoying good company.
When placing this cache, we spotted another electrical storm in the same location - no meteors to be seen tonight though.
A word of warning - please park at the lower rest area and walk to the cache - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PARK ON THE HIGHWAY.
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