Kathmandu, December 13:

Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) today predicted the ocurrance of Geminid Meteor Shower (GMS), one of the best meteor shower of the year, on Friday night and Saturday morning.

A press release issued here today by NASO said, “Sixty to one hundred streaks of tiny particles that burn up fairly 70 km above the earth’s surface could be observed in the eastern part of the sky after mid evening as they slam through our atmosphere with speeds of approximately 35 km per hour.”

It said that the shower of brightly yellowish Geminids could begin as early as 10 pm local time on Friday and would peak at around 2 am on Saturday. “The glare from moonlight would not disturb while watching Geminids because the waxing moon that rises at 10:16 am is five-day old crescent and sets at 9:20 pm in the evening,” said the statement.

According to the release, the origin of GMS is linked to mysterious object called Phaethon-3200 that looks like cross between a weird asteroid and quaintly burned-out comet.