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Astronomy Picture of the Day 12-11-02
NASA ^
| 12-11-02
| Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell
Posted on 12/11/2002 3:55:34 AM PST by petuniasevan
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2002 December 11
Meteors Between Stars and Clouds
Credit & Copyright: Pierre Martin & Michael F. Vasseur (OAOG
Explanation: Streaking high above diffuse clouds -- but well in front of distant stars -- are sand-sized bits of an ancient comet: meteors. These bits flaked off Comet Tempel-Tuttle during its pass through the inner Solar System about 150 years ago. Far in the background are stars toward the constellation of Ursa Major. The above image is digital combination of 12 exposures taken on the morning of November 19 from Florida, USA. Observers there reported a strong peak in faint meteors between 5:30 and 6:00 EST, with a particularly strong minute coming at 5:46 EST when 22 Leonid meteors were counted. The likely less impressive Geminid meteor shower will peak over the next three nights.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: comet; leonids; meteor; night; photo; photography; shower; sky; view
Yet another photo of the Leonid shower this past month.
If you don't freeze doing so, watch for the Geminids the next few nights. The radiant will be in the constellation Gemini of course.
To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; ...
To: petuniasevan
Very nice photo - thanks for the ping!
To: petuniasevan
The things we learn on FR. I'll try seeing some Geminids late tonight! That is if the cloud cover breaks up, drat. Thanks.
4
posted on
12/11/2002 5:23:06 AM PST
by
xJones
To: petuniasevan
To: petuniasevan
Neat pic .... almost looks like the meteor shower is against the backdrop of an aurora borealis. Now that would be a real sight!
6
posted on
12/11/2002 7:30:45 AM PST
by
mikrofon
To: mikrofon
My question, too. Is it clouds or is it aurora? Hard to tell sometimes.
To: RightWhale
I'd say it's clouds. The photo was taken from Florida; they don't see too many auroras.
To: petuniasevan
Last couple of nights have been fairly good for eyeball astronomy here in the somewhat unseasonably warm Interior. Temperature 0 deg to 20 deg. Stars just about visible in the Little Dipper. I think that is 4th magnitude. Best skies in years. Even spotted M31 with no trouble.
To: petuniasevan
If you don't freeze doing so...Very cold here.
Love that chart. It really helps me "get my bearings".
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