Meteor Showers

1. 94

   Jlbowdenposted 12 years ago

   Does anyone have a specific interest in observing the various meteor showers that appear in our night skies throughout the various months of the year?  October 20th-21st for one, which is this evening, is going to be the peak time for the Orionid meteor shower. After midnight there will be anywhere in the neighborhood of 25 to 30 meteors radiating outward from the constellation Orion the hunter. Orion is located in the southeastern sky and can be identified by three fairly bright stars lining up in a row.  Anyone else going to be observing the Orionid meteor shower this evening?
   
   Jlbowden

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2. 87

   rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

   If I'm awake, I will.  I love watching the night sky.  I just finished a late night walk and it's a perfect night, the sky is clear and bright.  Thanks for the reminder.

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3. 82

   habeeposted 12 years ago

   I was just about to post a thread about this!

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4. 82

   habeeposted 12 years ago

   I just came back inside. I saw 9 meteors, including one that was truly spectacular.

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5. 60

   vikkijovposted 12 years ago

   I am so pleased I just read about this!   Meteor showers are always of interest to me and I'm glad I am not going to miss this.  I surely will look tonight!  Keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't rain.

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6. 87

   rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

   I fell asleep early last night because I was so tired from not sleeping the night before!  I bet it was beautiful.  There's nothing quite like experiencing the beauty of a spectacular night sky display.

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   1. 82

      habeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Bekah, the best is from viewing it at the end of a long ocean pier on a moonless night. Awesome!!

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7. 78

   Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

   It's been rainy and overcast all weekend so I have't gone out.
   
   My favorite two meteor showers are the wonderfully reliable Perseids, which occur in August, and the Leonids in November.
   
   For many years I attended a medieval reenactment camping even in August, so we were always out under clear skies to see the show. Also, it's generally warm when the Perseids are out! They're lazy... Usually one every few minutes at their peak.
   
   I have the impression that the Leonids are much more variable in their intensity, but occasionally put on one of the most thrilling displays of all. About ten years ago, I camped out in Joshua Tree and literally could not fall asleep because every time my eyes started to droop, another two or three would flare so brightly the whole sky would light up like lightning. That's the only meteor shower I've ever seen where some of them had color, green or red. I counted over 900, and could still see them falling on the western horizon as the sun was rising.
   
   I don't know if my health will let me camp on the ground overnight again, but I so want to see another Leonids show someday. My parents saw a Leonid shower in the 60s that was even better. I'll be checking forecasts; if my memory hasn't fuzzed the Leonids fall around November 17.

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   1. 82

      habeeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The most amazing meteor shower I've ever seen was a Leonid. It was like the sky was falling! We lived way out in the sticks at the time, so we had a great vantage point.

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8. 56

   Dame Scribeposted 12 years ago

   I showed my sons the Leonid meteor showers one time when they were young and it's now a regular event I hope they share that love with their own children one day. I love those meteor showers too and keep my eyes open on my emails that announce these events.

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9. 94

   Jlbowdenposted 12 years ago

   Dame Scribe:
   
   These types of night sky events are certainly an excellent educational learning tool for the kids too!  Are they not?  And in addition, a great all around way to enjoy some outdoor leisure time with the gathering of friends and family over a hot cup of cocoa, or hot spiced apple cider while you invite the heavens in.

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