INTRODUCTION
3200 Phaethon is an object that scientists have studied for decades.  Through years of research, they have concluded that Phaethon is an asteroid with comet-like properties.  It has a tail of ejected dust, the Sun’s heat reveals an icy core, and its orbit resembles that of a comet.  Because 3200 Phaethon occasionally enters the orbit of the main asteroid belt, scientists hypothesize that it collided with another asteroid, knocking a trail of debris loose from the asteroids. This is one possible explanation for the tail that continues to follow Phaethon.
Every year, around December 14th, the Geminid Meteor shower commences.  A meteor is a broken off particle from an asteroid or comet that orbits the sun. Though 3200 Phaethon might appear to be a harmless object in space, this asteroid’s large size and close proximity to the earth categorize it as a “Potentially Hazardous Object.”  David Jewitt, a professor of astronomy at UCLA, answered the question whether or not 3200 Phaethon would be dangerous if it hit earth.  He answered “...it would be dangerous and marked as potentially hazardous because of its proximity.” (Daily Bruin).  Phaethon is the third largest asteroid discovered with a diameter of approximately 5 kilometers, which is about the length of 15 eiffel towers.  This asteroid comes closer and closer to the earth every year, and one day it will likely hit and destroy possibly mankind.