Editing Geminids (section)

== Background ==
The Geminid meteor shower is unique among celestial events as it originates not from a comet but from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, discovered on Oct. 11, 1983, by the [[IRAS|Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS)]]. Phaethon's 1.4-year orbit around the [[Sun]] and its comet-like elliptical trajectory have led scientists to speculate if it is a "dead comet" or a distinct celestial entity known as a "rock comet." Despite its comet-like orbit, Phaethon lacks a cometary tail and exhibits spectra resembling a rocky asteroid. The Geminid meteoroids formed from Phaethon are denser (2–3 g/cm<sup>3</sup>) than typical cometary dust flakes (0.3 g/cm<sup>3</sup>). Named after the [[Phaethon|Greek mythological figure]] who drove the Sun-god Helios' chariot, Phaethon's discovery was attributed to astronomer Fred Whipple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geminids – NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/geminids/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=science.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref>