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TonyM
New Member
18 Posts
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 Posted -
09/07/2008
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14:29
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By popular request here are some metoer showers to look out for with approximate dates (the actual dates vary slightly from year to year):-
The Persieds around August 12th
The Orionids around October 2nd - November 7th
The Leonids around November 17th plus or minus a week.
Here is a link to a list of meteor showers http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_meteor_showers
(many will not be visible to us because they are not bright enough, occur during our day time or are visible from the Southern hemisphere).
The "Right Ascension" and "Declination" give you their positions but off the top of my head I can't translate that into directions (they are a bit like longitude and latitude but relating to the sky.
Edited by - TonyM on 09/07/2008 2:33:36 PM
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wendyf
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Posted - 13/08/2009 : 09:03
I sat out for a while after 10 o clock but it was quite cloudy. Had another look when the dog needed to go out at 2.00am but my eyes wanted to stay closed.
Wendy
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panbiker
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Posted - 13/08/2009 : 09:40
I ventured out up Letcliffe about 10.30, some break in the clouds but not really dark enough with the half moon as well. Oh well, Quantratids in January which may stand more chance of a crisp night. And same time next year for another trip through the Perseids.
Still worth keeping an eye out over the next week, last night was just the peak when the earth was in the centre of the debris trail, lots more rocks up there for a pretty show.
Edited by - panbiker on 13/08/2009 09:40:44
Ian |
Tizer
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Posted - 14/08/2009 : 09:50
Clear sky last night - but no meteors!
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Another
Traycle Mine Overseer
6250 Posts
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Posted - 14/08/2009 : 17:17
Got a great view of them on Tuesday - way out in the Dorset countryside with no streetlamps for miles. Lovely and clear and saw loads at about 11.00pm. Nolic
" I'm a self made man who worships his creator"  |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 15/08/2009 : 07:02
Well at least we know they were there!
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 21/10/2009 : 20:20
The Orionid meteor shower is due tonight (early hours of Thursday morning). I only heard about it this evening. Here in Somerset the sky looks too cloudy for any success, but if you have clear sky tonight take a look. It's supposed to be best in the hours just after midnight and then another chance about 6.00am. Full details...
http://www.popastro.com/sections/meteor/meteor-oct2009.htm
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Tizer
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Posted - 23/10/2009 : 14:12
I stayed up but the sky clouded over around midnight and I called it a day (or night). While I was watching I had some very clear skies. I didn't see the meteor shower itself because that wasn't until after midnight but I saw three of what they call `sporadic' meteors - odd ones not in the main target area of the sky.
The main shower comes out of the Orion constellation and I was looking for that. I'm no astronomer but I do recognise Orion, the Plough, Cassiopeia and one or two others. Usually I find Orion easily but not that night. Where was it hiding?
The following day I learnt why I wouldn't have found it. Orion was rising above the horizon in the south-east at the time I was looking and that's the bit of sky I couldn't see because of trees! Had the sky stayed clear (and if I'd had the stamina) Orion would have risen above the trees later in the night. Then I would have looked at the `club' above Orion's head and seen the meteors coming from that point in the sky.
At least I learnt a bit more about the night sky and enjoyed the time when the sky was clear and full of stars. I've found a web site that is good for showing a star map set for your location and whatever date/time you want:
http://starmap.causeway.co.uk/
In the `Location' box you can enter any of the `known locations' - to find what these are, go to the bottom of the page and click the link for `Known Locations'. Alternatively you can put numbers in the longitude and latitude boxes. Next put in the Date (e.g. 2009-10-23) and Time (e.g. 22.00). Now hit the Return key and you should get the appropriate star map. Under Options you can tick any or all of Stars, Planets, Constellations etc. (It works for the Southern Hemisphere too, so come on Maz and Cath, you've no excuse now for missing the heavenly bodies on offer!)
For an illustration of Orion and some other constellations as you would see them at this time of year in the UK, got to the British Astronomical Association site:
http://britastro.org/starcount/findorion.html
Move your mouse cursor over the picture and you will see Orion (The Hunter) in the centre.
Happy stargazing!
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panbiker
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Posted - 13/12/2009 : 21:09
Peak of Geminids meteor shower tonight 13th -14th December. 2.00am will be at their height although visible throughout the night. Good opportunity to view this year as the shower coincides nearly with the new moon on the 16th. Very slight crescent moon tonight will not rise until early hours so best chance of dark skies.
The shower will eminate from the gemini cluster with Castor and Pollux the brightest stars visible here in the North Eastern sky. Find the Plough and look further along from the "spade" of the constellation towards the NE.
Can be up to 120 per hour, worth a look if you have a clear sky.
Edited by - panbiker on 13/12/2009 21:12:34
Ian |
Tizer
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Posted - 14/12/2009 : 20:37
We tried to see them but the sky clouded over in the evening. I saw one meteor that travelled almost vertically downwards in the west. A shame because it should have been a good night for meteors.
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panbiker
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Posted - 06/08/2010 : 19:59
Persieds meteor shower around 12th August, watch the skies!
Ian |
Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 07/08/2010 : 06:46
Why is it that every time Ian posts his reminder the first image that springs to mind is Terry Thomas "You're a shower! An absolute shower!" No what was the picture? Was it the one where Peter Sellers was Kite, the shop steward?
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Another
Traycle Mine Overseer
6250 Posts
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Posted - 07/08/2010 : 07:11
"I'm All Right Jack" Nolic
" I'm a self made man who worships his creator" |
Meteor Showers
