Geminid Meteor Shower Video: Annual 'Shooting Star' Show Seen From Joshua Tree

If you were lucky enough to see the Geminid meteor shower, which peaked Tuesday night, it most likely didn't look like this.

After all, Henry Jun Wah Lee, a filmmaker and photographer from Los Angeles, spent three days and two nights with his camera in Joshua Tree National Park to capture video and photos featured in the film below.

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But camping out under the stars for those few nights resulted in an amazing time-lapse video of last year's Geminid meteor shower, juxtaposed against a backdrop of the enchanting landscape found in Joshua Tree.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the annual display is called the Geminids because the meteors appear to be emitted from the constellation Gemini.

(Click here for more on the Geminid meteor shower.)

Wah Lee explains on his website that not all of the streaks of light are meteors -- the flashes lasting longer than one or two frames are airplanes.

According to his Vimeo page, the video is set to "Happiness," from Jónsi & Alex's album "Riceboy Sleeps."

But even though the video is spectacular, Wah Lee writes on his website that "watching this doesn't beat the experience of actually sitting underneath the stars yourself."

Be sure to check out Wah Lee's site for his explanation of why he titled the film "Fleeting Light: The High Desert and the Geminid Meteor Shower" and for details about how he shot it.

In the mood for some more time-lapse? Check out this one from the Chilean desert featuring some of the stars and constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

For more about the Geminid meteor shower, click here.

WATCH:

Fleeting Light: The High Desert and the Geminid Meteor Shower from Henry Jun Wah Lee on Vimeo.

Comments

[dave1marine]

10:37 AM on 12/31/2011

I used to camp at Joshua Tree quite a bit many years ago. What a mesmerizing place. Fantastic rock formations, flora and fauna during the day, BEAUTIFUL skies at night. Truly a National Treasure.

[cambio]

11:03 AM on 12/15/2011

Why does this look totally CGI to me? A lot of the landscapes just looked fake, especially the desert one near the end with the plant. The plant looked fake. I'm sure it was all probably real, but something seems off. Did anyone else think that?

[Filippa]

11:39 AM on 12/15/2011

The tree is real. It's a Joshua tree. Joshua Tree National Park is a desert park in CA. It's really beautiful especially when the desert plants are in bloom in early spring.

[cedy]

10:08 AM on 12/15/2011

Nice dolly moves

[Nonpc1]

05:51 AM on 12/15/2011

The wonders and beauty of Gods creation are endless. God Bless America. In God We Trust.

[Henssis1]

12:02 AM on 12/15/2011

Beautiful...Thank you Mr. Henry jun Wah Lee...

[drny626]

12:00 AM on 12/15/2011

if the night sky looked like that every night I think humans would have a great appreciation for our planet. seeing all those stars really puts things into perspective that we are just one a trillions of planets out there and that we are very lucky to be alive and to be living on such a beautiful planet. I wish everyone would wake up and realize it before it's to late.

[stripedbass7]

10:39 PM on 12/14/2011

Mr. Henry jun Wah Lee. Thank You, Its Beautiful........ I was just outside the park in Joshua tree 12-13-2011. A magical place Joshua tree. Next Music Festival they have there, im There......

[Just Dance]

10:05 PM on 12/14/2011

I especially loved how the turning stars visually reminded me that, in fact, WE are turning through vast space. It was spectacular to view the night sky with that perspective.

[dementedone]

09:50 PM on 12/14/2011

Makes me sooo miss being in the mountains away for city lights. Lucky to see a handful of stars above house and I live 4 miles outside the city. loved the video.... thanks

[Richard Kiene]

09:40 PM on 12/14/2011

Beautiful,and relaxing.......AH...

[listgirl3]

09:12 PM on 12/14/2011

That was fantastic - have to add Chilean Desert to watch the meteor shower to my bucket list :)

[Deb Upchurch Gress]

09:54 PM on 12/14/2011

exactly what I was thinking!

[Hosway1992]

07:53 PM on 12/14/2011

Is it weird that the second the song started playing I immediately knew it was Jonsi?
Great video.

[deecase]

07:44 PM on 12/14/2011

the end of the film says december 12-14 2010????

[ratssaidskinner]

07:13 PM on 12/14/2011

I'm a geek when it comes to weather and astronomy! Always have been since I was about 12 when my dad and I built a weather "station" in our small fenced-in yard on a row-house in Philadelphia! I know my dad paid about $100 for the equipment and lumbar to buld it. (Looking back, my dad did SO much for me...I miss him dearly).
Anyway..........This was beautiful. The only "problem" was that it was SO tranquil & beautiful that I am now ready for bed and it's only 7:14 pm!
GREAT job!

[samdogdamndog2]

07:09 PM on 12/14/2011

Now you know why Gram loved it so...