The meteor shower is caused by an asteroid named 2003 EH1. "It’s believed to be a dormant or extinct comet," according to Earthsky.org. "The asteroid takes 5.5 years to orbit the sun.

"It’s believed to be a dormant or extinct comet," according to Earthsky.org. "The asteroid takes 5.5 years to orbit the sun.

The shower occurs when the debris tail of an extinct comet called '3200 Phaethon' passes through the Earth's sphere. "Geminids are pieces of debris from an object called 3200 Phaethon. It was long ...