Perseid Meteor Shower

Thanks for the information, with these, there are some that are really cool to watch streaking the night skiies!

Happy star-gazing to those who'll be outside looking up and good luck too!
 
If you cant see them with your eyes you may want to check on the weather radar websites for the streaks that show up on the images.

Richard
 
Roadrunner said:
Thanks for the information, with these, there are some that are really cool to watch streaking the night skiies!

Happy star-gazing to those who'll be outside looking up and good luck too!


You are welcome.. I will be sure to go outside on 12th to watch the meteors shower.. i have been doing this for years since I was young..

Oh yeah.. i want to let you know its not just the 12th but i did saw 4 meteors the other night .. it started last week of July.. so you can look at sky, ok anytime but 12th is suppose to be the BEST time.. but shitty due to moon.. grrr.. lol :) Anyway Good luck! and have fun! :)
 
I remember as a teen at summer camp, the director would always announce the Persid metor shower. We would look for falling stars while singing around the Campfire on Sunday night.
 
I hope my children with me will go to the mountain to catch the view of meteors tonight before moon rise. I want Aly and JT both see and experience something like that.
 
I have seen meteor showers before few years ago in November, I saw lots of meteors streaking the sky up in the mountains.
 
yeah there are different meteor showers during the year... Jan, April, May, July, Aug, Oct, Nov and Dec.

Meteor Showers and Viewing Tips
2006 Meteor Showers
The next meteor shower is the Perseids on August 12.

Name Date of Peak Moon Phase
Quadrantids January 3 Evening crescent
Lyrids April 22 Morning crescent
Eta Aquarids May 6 Past first quarter
Delta Aquarids July 28 Evening crescent
Perseids August 12 Almost full
Orionids October 21 New Moon
Leonids November 17 New Moon
Geminids December 14 Morning crescent

What are meteor showers?

An increase in the number of meteors at a particular time of year is called a meteor shower.

Comets shed the debris that becomes most meteor showers. As comets orbit the Sun, they shed an icy, dusty debris stream along the comet's orbit. If Earth travels through this stream, we will see a meteor shower. Depending on where Earth and the stream meet, meteors appear to fall from a particular place in the sky, maybe within the neighborhood of a constellation.

Meteor showers are named by the constellation from which meteors appear to fall, a spot in the sky astronomers call the radiant. For instance, the radiant for the Leonid meteor shower is located in the constellation Leo. The Perseid meteor shower is so named because meteors appear to fall from a point in the constellation Perseus.

What are shooting stars?

"Shooting stars" and "falling stars" are both names that people have used for many hundreds of years to describe meteors -- intense streaks of light across the night sky caused by small bits of interplanetary rock and debris called meteoroids crashing and burning high in Earth's upper atmosphere. Traveling at thousands of miles an hour, meteoroids quickly ignite in searing friction of the atmosphere, 30 to 80 miles above the ground. Almost all are destroyed in this process; the rare few that survive and hit the ground are known as meteorites.

When a meteor appears, it seems to "shoot" quickly across the sky, and its small size and intense brightness might make you think it is a star. If you're lucky enough to spot a meteorite (a meteor that makes it all the way to the ground), and see where it hits, it's easy to think you just saw a star "fall."

How can I best view a meteor shower?

If you live near a brightly lit city, drive away from the glow of city lights and toward the constellation from which the meteors will appear to radiate.

For example, drive north to view the Leonids. Driving south may lead you to darker skies, but the glow will dominate the northern horizon, where Leo rises. Perseid meteors will appear to "rain" into the atmosphere from the constellation Perseus, which rises in the northeast around 11 p.m. in mid-August.

After you've escaped the city glow, find a dark, secluded spot where oncoming car headlights will not periodically ruin your sensitive night vision. Look for state or city parks or other safe, dark sites.

Once you have settled at your observing spot, lay back or position yourself so the horizon appears at the edge of your peripheral vision, with the stars and sky filling your field of view. Meteors will instantly grab your attention as they streak by.

How do I know the sky is dark enough to see meteors?

If you can see each star of the Little Dipper, your eyes have "dark adapted," and your chosen site is probably dark enough. Under these conditions, you will see plenty of meteors.

What should I pack for meteor watching?

Treat meteor watching like you would the 4th of July fireworks. Pack comfortable chairs, bug spray, food and drinks, blankets, plus a red-filtered flashlight for reading maps and charts without ruining your night vision. Binoculars are not necessary. Your eyes will do just fine.


StarDate Online | 2006 Meteor Showers and Viewing Tips
 
Damn, I missed it... I hope I wont miss again on Oct 21, ha...
 
I brought my kids out of town to catch the meteor shower. My son won the count than me. Last weekend night was awesome.
 
It's tonight and tomorrow night again.
 
that the shower I tried to explain on another thread it came to its incredible end last Saturday.I Watched first one about 6 or 7pm saw it burn up then had great show,i got up at 2pm sat in garden looked out to sea just breath taking
 
We had too much cloud cover last night. :(

Maybe tonight will be better.
 
I did wonder if the Earth orbit may have changed earth moved on and you not get them..They were incredible..Another shower due sometime in August name begin with L.iF I go check it it slow getting back
 
Back
Top