The meteor shower occurs every year when Earth crosses the path of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The source of the Geminid shower is the asteroid Phaethon, which was discovered back in 1983. As the asteroid passes near the planet, it leaves debris that burns up in the atmosphere. The speed of the meteors is relatively low, not exceeding 35 kilometers per hour.
The Geminid meteors emerge from the constellation Gemini. A good reference point is the well-known constellation Orion. The meteors of this shower are relatively slow, with an entry speed into our planet's atmosphere of only 35 km/s (with a maximum possible speed of 77 km/s).
The Geminid shower itself is unique; the asteroid Phaethon is about 5 km in diameter and moves along a highly elongated orbit stretching from Mars to Mercury. In fact, it is the core of a former comet, which has completely evaporated its volatile substances and has turned into an asteroid.
Source: Nasledie
