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Spectacular Meteorite Storm Set For Next Week
Ananova ^ | 11-12-2002

Posted on 11/12/2002 9:43:15 AM PST by blam

Spectacular meteorite storm set for next week

A spectacular display of shooting stars not likely to be repeated for 30 years takes place next week.

The Leonid meteors generate a shower of activity every November, but this year they are predicted to whip up a storm.

It will happen at around 4am on Tuesday November 19.

Sky-watchers may see several brilliant shooting stars every minute on a clear night, despite a nearly full moon.

The Leonids are not expected to return in such numbers until at least 2034.

On the other hand, meteors, like the weather, are notoriously unpredictable, and there is no absolute guarantee that the storm will occur.

A spokesman for the Society for Popular Astronomy, said: "If we do get a meteor storm, it should be worth setting the alarm for. But you will need to watch for some time to stand a good chance of seeing the meteors.

"If you just take a quick glance from the bedroom window you may not see anything. And there are no guarantees that the predictions will be correct."

The Leonids can be seen in any part of the sky. Among the best places to watch are the north-eastern to south-eastern skies around 3am to 5am, when the Moon is dipping lower in the west.

Anyone hoping to see the shooting stars should face away from the Moon, or hide it behind a roof top or wall. Street and house lights should be avoided too. In previous years, the peak of Leonid activity has been very sharp. Predictions show a rapid rise in activity after about 3am, with more than 150 meteors showing themselves every 15 minutes under ideal conditions.

Story filed: 17:38 Monday 11th November 2002


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: meteorite; nextweek; spectacular; storm
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1 posted on 11/12/2002 9:43:15 AM PST by blam
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To: blam
The lack of any indication of time zones makes this information of little use. There are expected to be two sharp peaks, the first of which will not be visible on the west coast.

On the west coast, the visible peak will be at about 2:36AM Tuesday morning (Monday night).

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/meteors/article_719_1.asp
2 posted on 11/12/2002 10:25:33 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed
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To: blam
On Friday evening, around 9:00 pm, Mrs. P. and I saw a nice warm-up act: a brilliant fireball to the north of the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. Later that evening, my brother saw a bright meteor in roughly the same location.
3 posted on 11/12/2002 10:51:31 AM PST by Physicist
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To: blam
The Leonids are not expected to return in such numbers until at least 2034.

We were told something very similar last November. The show was great, but I didn't know we would get one this year also.

Will we get one next year, too?

4 posted on 11/12/2002 10:53:59 AM PST by bankwalker
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To: blam; callisto
Oh, dear, more early mornings outside.......I hope it's not so cold this year! What a great show it was last year!!!
5 posted on 11/12/2002 10:55:27 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Mo1; Brad's Gramma
Remember last year????
6 posted on 11/12/2002 10:55:51 AM PST by Howlin
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To: bankwalker
"Will we get one next year, too?"

Yes.

7 posted on 11/12/2002 10:59:53 AM PST by blam
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Howlin
A spectacular display of shooting stars not likely to be repeated for 30 years takes place next week.

LOL .. Oh geez another one

Yes I remember staying up till 4AM in the morning .. running back and forth from outside to the computer and freezing my butt off

Then waking up the kids and having them look out my bedroom window cause of the cold ONLY to have them fall asleep and me end up sleeping on the couch that night

Hmmmm I think I'll pass this year .. LOL

9 posted on 11/12/2002 11:00:33 AM PST by Mo1
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To: fissionproducts
Cash Plea For Russian Meteor Chasers (Impact Crater)
10 posted on 11/12/2002 11:04:36 AM PST by blam
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To: bankwalker
Will we get one next year, too?

I don't know much about astronomy, but here's a quote from the article:

"After 2002, however, there will be no more Leonid storms for a very long time. ... In 2098 the separation of the orbits shrinks to 0.0062 a.u. And in 2131, for the first time since 1633, the comet crosses our orbital plane slightly outside the Earth’s orbit at a distance of 0.0089 a.u. Not until one, or both, of these remote years can our great grandchildren expect to witness a storm of Leonid meteors."

Perhaps some Freepers who know more about this can elaborate.

11 posted on 11/12/2002 11:06:05 AM PST by oremites
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To: bankwalker
The Leonids FAQ's
12 posted on 11/12/2002 11:09:11 AM PST by blam
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To: Mo1
Oh come on......we had a live thread..........it was fun!
13 posted on 11/12/2002 11:16:35 AM PST by Howlin
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To: Howlin
Yes I'll admit it was fun .. but if I do that again I'll have to stock up in the wine so I won't notice how cold it is .. LOL
14 posted on 11/12/2002 11:25:11 AM PST by Mo1
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To: blam
There should be a pretty good show of things falling out of the sky over Bagdad within the next month or two as well.
15 posted on 11/12/2002 11:59:57 AM PST by Stefan Stackhouse
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To: blam
The sky is falling1 Bump
16 posted on 11/12/2002 12:12:45 PM PST by woofer
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To: bankwalker
Yea...I thought that was supposed to be the best for the next 100 years or something. We sat on the Kohala Coast beach to see it.
17 posted on 11/12/2002 12:19:59 PM PST by what's up
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To: Howlin
Do I remember????? LOLOLOL!!!! What a GREAT time we had!!!! Thanks for the ping.
18 posted on 11/12/2002 9:07:51 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma
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To: RadioAstronomer; longshadow; PatrickHenry
Leonid ping!
19 posted on 11/12/2002 9:12:17 PM PST by Aracelis
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To: Physicist
I think I saw that one down here in DE... was it in the southwestern sky?
20 posted on 11/12/2002 9:13:35 PM PST by Pyro7480
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