Radiants

Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is a nice depiction of the so-called "radiant" during a meteor shower. Showers (swarms) follow set paths (orbits) around the Solar System, ticking away on their Newtonian-derived tracks. When we intersect those paths on our journey, we seem to encounter the meteors coming from the same constellations (hence, Geminids, Taurids, etc.). Meteors will fall from "around" that constellation, from a central point or radiant. A time-lapse photograph like this is a nice demonstration.

As for me, I only spotted three Geminids. Damn light-polluted skies.