"Simulations Suggest Geminid Meteors 10 Times Older Than Previously Believed"

New simulations suggest that the rocks comprising the Geminid meteor shower, originating from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, may be about 10 times older than previously estimated, potentially dating back 18,000 years. Contrary to previous beliefs, recent observations indicate that the tail of Phaethon may be composed of vaporized sodium rather than dust, leading researchers to propose a rotational instability mechanism as the source of the Geminids. Simulations show that Phaethon's mass-shedding event likely occurred 18,000 years ago, with the resulting fragments diverted towards Earth approximately 4,000 years ago. The upcoming Phaethon-bound DESTINY+ mission in 2025 may provide evidence of this rotational instability.