Western Australian skies were clear on Sunday night as the year's strongest meteor shower impressed overhead.
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Between 50 and 100 shooting stars were forecast every hour during the Geminids meteor shower with some glowing in multiple colours.
The meteors have broken off 3200 Phaethon, an almost five-kilometre-wide object, which is breaking up because it swings close to the sun's surface. The Geminids are so named because their path can be traced back to the constellation Gemini.
Meteor showers occur when the Earth ploughs through clouds of cometary dust. The tiny particles, some no bigger than a grain of sand, burn up brightly as they enter the atmosphere.
The annual Geminids meteor shower was first glimpsed late in the 19th century, but at that time "the shower was weak and attracted little attention. There was no hint that it would ever become a major display," NASA said.
The meteor shower lasts for several days, but the peak was expected in Australia on Sunday night.
Did you get a good photo of the Geminids meteor shower as it passed over? Email andrew.elstermann@fairfaxmedia.com.au
