This asteroid (we found out in the 1980s) is responsible for the debris field that causes the Geminid Meteor Shower. It was discovered using the Infrafred Astronomical Satellite. Phaethon currently has an asteroid designation although it does have characteristics of what some call a rock comet.
More information:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/n ... ethon.html
https://www.daviddarling.info/encyclope ... ethon.html
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/arecib ... on-images/
https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/3200-phaethon/
3200 Phaethon
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Christopher K.
- Posts: 6196
- Joined: October 12th, 2009, 3:28 pm
- Location: Baton Rouge, LA