Posted on 08/10/2011 1:34:42 PM PDT by metmom
Stargazers, get thee to the closest open space you can find! Astronomers say tonight may be the best time to view the Perseid meteor shower — one of the most spectacular (and reliable) of the annual meteor showers.
The shower, which is visible across the nation, is not expected to peak until Saturday night. But the peak coincides with a full moon, meaning that night's dazzling display of tiny streaks of light shooting across the sky — sometimes as fast as 60 to 120 meteor streaks per hour — won't be so dazzling. The light of the moon will get in the way.
But just because you can't view the shower at its peak doesn't mean it's not worth viewing. The meteor shower began in mid-July and will continue to build in intensity until it peaks. So, if you look up in the sky tonight, you'll still get a reasonably good display without too much light interference from the moon.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Thanks!
The Perseids are supposed to peak on the 11th.
It appears that this is a little late, but tonight should still be good.
I wasn’t aware of this event, but the other night while laying in the grass late at night, I saw the biggest “fireball” I’ve seen in a long time. It almost seemed to fall in slow motion.
Thanks!!
My west is the best from my back porch ... trees, etc.
So “I’m being followed by a moonshadow” is a good thing for the next few nights ...
Here in Los Angeles we've got a window tonight from 2:07 a.m. until 4:36 a.m. On Aug. 10, the window shrinks by an hour from 3:07 a.m. and by Aug. 11, it shrinks again to just 30 minutes — from 4:08 a.m.to 4:38 a.m..
BTTT
Perseid Meteor Shower: Best Times to Spot ‘Shooting Stars’ This Week
http://www.space.com/12570-perseid-meteor-shower-skywatching-tips-2011.html
Thanks for reminding me. I had it on my calender, but it is so easy to forget things. *hugs*
Thanks. The meteor shower is so predictable for the 11 that I didn’t even think of it before now, especially since almost every stinking time there’s something good to see in the sky, WE have cloud cover.
So the last couple nights were out anyway.
*sigh*
There’s been some sunspot activity as well and the chance for auroras but it’s been cloudy for most of those nights as well.
Watching this is a tradition in our family. Get the air matress out of the pool - get a good spot on the patio and watch the show. It’s always fun.
Watching this is a tradition in our family. Get the air matress out of the pool - get a good spot on the patio and watch the show. It’s always fun.
Does it matter which part of the country you live in? I would like to see them if I can.
Suddenly, out of the north came a florescent green object, a light green streak trailing behind. As best I could tell, it was the size of a 1990s cell phone or smaller, about 35 feet off the ground and going about 60 plus miles per hour.............
It was making cracking and popping sounds as it flew within 15 yards from where I was sitting.........I didn't hear it hit anything, so it must have gone quite a ways more and hit on someone else's property........
8:}
I don’t think so much at this point.
Check out the link in post 9.
Sometimes it’s worth the wait.
I’ve seen some spectacular ones myself. I saw one like you did once but it was in the dead of winter. I just happened to be outside for a minute, going from the car to the house, and looked up to admire the sky and zzzzzzzzzzttttttt, fizzled out right above the neighbors house.
I saw only three or four for the few minutes I spent outside. I didn’t have anything set up to recline on so my neck could only handle so much.
It was a gorgeous night, though.
It was too cloudy for me.
The space station is supposed to pass almost directly over Texas tonight around 8:40 pm so I’m going to try and see that.
http://www.n2yo.com/passes/?s=25544
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