Over the next few days, catch the Geminid meteor showers in the darkness of a waning crescent moon. This prolific shower of 120 meteors per hour takes its name from Gemini, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux. As one of the brothers passed away and became a star, the other brother asked the Greek immortals if he could join his brother in the sky. Next week, the smaller Ursid shower peaks on the night of the winter solstice, Thursday, Dec. 21. These meteors radiate from the Little Dipper, or Ursa Minor, constellation at a rate of about five to 10 an hour, also in a darkened sky.
The solstice comes with many traditions in communities across the world. In Scandinavia, the pre-Christian Feast of Yule was held at this time; a log burned in honor for the god Thor, and the ashes were spread on the fields to insure a good harvest. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia at this time, feasting and suspending rules and behaviors in honor of their god Saturn. The solstice is the shortest day of the year and marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. In West Marin, it helps mark the beginning of the annual southern migration of Pacific gray whales and the onshore migration of Northern elephant seals.
News from the national seashore: Yankee, the recovering sea otter, has been seen in Drakes Estero, and reportedly attempted to climb aboard a boat. Sadly, the otter is suffering from domoic acid toxicity, which may affect his mental state and behavior. Please check in at park visitor centers if you have Yankee sightings to report.