Don't miss the Leonid Meteor Shower tonite

artao · 11-16-09, 09:45 PM

The Leonids tonite (16th - 17th) are predicted to peak at over 100 meteors per hour, so be sure to check 'em out if that's your cup 'o tea. It is mine, but unfortunately we've got clouds here in SW Wisconsin right now. REALLY hoping they clear the hell out.
Peak time will be when your location on the planet is facing roughly into the direction of Earth's orbit .... so basically after midnight.
The radiant of the shower (where they appear to 'originate' from) is in/around the constellation Leo -- thus Leonids -- but at over 100/hr they should be all over the place.
The Leonids come from clouds of cometary debris. I forget which comet. The predicted high number results from a particularly dense cloud of this debris. I believe the average peak of the Leonids is around 30/hr or so.
Enjoy!!!

Torplexed · 11-16-09, 10:42 PM

Alas...not to be seen in my besodden Northwest skies.

I'm stuck with the more mundane rain showers.

Task Force · 11-16-09, 10:51 PM

Cool...

what time?

antikristuseke · 11-17-09, 01:55 AM

Not sure if it is visible here, probably isn't. Anyway am not well enough to be out of bed anyway.

Torvald Von Mansee · 11-17-09, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torplexed

Alas...not to be seen in my besodden Northwest skies.

I'm stuck with the more mundane rain showers.

I lived for a short while in the NW. Seeing the stars may be tricky.

Unfortunately, I live right next to a major urban center, so I'll have too much light pollution to see anything, most likely.

Platapus · 11-17-09, 07:59 AM

No way will I look at this meteor shower.

I remember "the day of the trifids"

SteamWake · 11-17-09, 10:20 AM

Of course it was cloudy here. So of course once again we missed them.

Not only that westward is my 'worst' view direction, The trees cover nearly 30 percent of the sky so we had planned a trip out to the lake.

Was just about to pack up all the 'stuff' when I went out side and... dog gone it... clouds

artao · 11-17-09, 10:01 AM

Ya, fricken clouds here too. Kept goin out to check, and by 2am there were sparse holes in the clouds, only a few bright stars visible, and could see them come and go as the clouds passed by. Went to bed, set alarm for 3:30, still fricken cloudy.
Too bad, wondering how it panned out. Still looking for reports. China is supposed to get quite a display tonite, but not the US. China gets all the astronomical fun this year

Oh well. I'll see a meteor storm some day.
In 2000 I saw a meteor explode in the sky (a bolide) making it like daylight for a second or so. Saw a rather large smoke trail leading TO the explosion, and a much smaller trail going away from it. That was WAY awesome!!

<EDIT> WOW steamwake!! are you a time traveller? I posted this AFTER I read your post, yet mine shows up BEFORE yours in the thread. odd

DeerHunter UK · 11-17-09, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

No way will I look at this meteor shower.

I remember "the day of the trifids"

I was about to type the same thing!

Hide under your bed covers people!

Oberon · 11-17-09, 12:31 PM

Either that or crash into a bus

11-16-09, 09:45 PM	#1
artao Officer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 238 Downloads: 144 Uploads: 0	Don't miss the Leonid Meteor Shower tonite The Leonids tonite (16th - 17th) are predicted to peak at over 100 meteors per hour, so be sure to check 'em out if that's your cup 'o tea. It is mine, but unfortunately we've got clouds here in SW Wisconsin right now. REALLY hoping they clear the hell out. Peak time will be when your location on the planet is facing roughly into the direction of Earth's orbit .... so basically after midnight. The radiant of the shower (where they appear to 'originate' from) is in/around the constellation Leo -- thus Leonids -- but at over 100/hr they should be all over the place. The Leonids come from clouds of cometary debris. I forget which comet. The predicted high number results from a particularly dense cloud of this debris. I believe the average peak of the Leonids is around 30/hr or so. Enjoy!!! __________________ l8r, artao

11-16-09, 10:51 PM	#3
Task Force Rear Admiral Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SPACE!!!! Posts: 10,142 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	Cool... what time? __________________ Task Force industries "Taking control of the world, one mind at a time"

11-17-09, 07:59 AM	#6
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,361 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	No way will I look at this meteor shower. I remember "the day of the trifids" __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-17-09, 10:20 AM	#7
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Of course it was cloudy here. So of course once again we missed them. Not only that westward is my 'worst' view direction, The trees cover nearly 30 percent of the sky so we had planned a trip out to the lake. Was just about to pack up all the 'stuff' when I went out side and... dog gone it... clouds __________________ Follow the progress of Mr. Mulligan : http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=147648

11-17-09, 10:01 AM	#8
artao Officer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 238 Downloads: 144 Uploads: 0	Ya, fricken clouds here too. Kept goin out to check, and by 2am there were sparse holes in the clouds, only a few bright stars visible, and could see them come and go as the clouds passed by. Went to bed, set alarm for 3:30, still fricken cloudy. Too bad, wondering how it panned out. Still looking for reports. China is supposed to get quite a display tonite, but not the US. China gets all the astronomical fun this year Oh well. I'll see a meteor storm some day. In 2000 I saw a meteor explode in the sky (a bolide) making it like daylight for a second or so. Saw a rather large smoke trail leading TO the explosion, and a much smaller trail going away from it. That was WAY awesome!! <EDIT> WOW steamwake!! are you a time traveller? I posted this AFTER I read your post, yet mine shows up BEFORE yours in the thread. odd __________________ l8r, artao

11-16-09, 10:42 PM	#2
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Alas...not to be seen in my besodden Northwest skies. I'm stuck with the more mundane rain showers.

11-17-09, 01:55 AM	#4
antikristuseke Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Estland Posts: 4,330 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Not sure if it is visible here, probably isn't. Anyway am not well enough to be out of bed anyway.

11-17-09, 12:31 PM	#10
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Either that or crash into a bus