Note added Friday morning: the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has launched! Read all about it.
Not two minutes ago as I write this, I saw a a Perseid flash across the sky. Did you?
Don’t worry. Friday night is good too. The Moon sets early, so go out around 1:00 or later. You’ll see plenty.
Come to think of it, I’m not sure when I saw a Perseid meteor last. It was always cloudy in August in Virginia when I was kid. Always. I saw a good show once in college, in Michigan, with my friend Dan (who is now also a professional astronomer). And then in grad school, some friends of mine and I went out to the roof of the astronomy department to watch the shower, and I think we saw a few.
Now I can say I saw one this time. And Friday night, if it’s clear, I think I’ll get the Wee Astronomer out to watch a few more. It’s a great way to spend time. Maybe the best way.
August 12th, 2005 at 4:43 am
I went out yesterday night, but early. I had to get up at 6 this morning, so I couldn’t really stay late! Still, I managed to see 4 in 30 minutes.
One of them was big enough to leave a long trail of smoke.
It’s just too bad they are calling for clouds today, I would’ve stayed late this time!
August 12th, 2005 at 8:01 am
Sigh… I live in Santa Barbara, CA where it is always foggy at night this time of year….
Maybe tonight I’ll wake up and go to the mountains since I don’t have to work tomorrow. IN the meantime, all you clear-skied people, enjoy!
Brenda
August 12th, 2005 at 8:26 am
Weather was terrible here in Denver last night. Gonna try again tonite, and if the weather holds head up to the mountians to get away from the city lights.
August 12th, 2005 at 10:17 am
Overcast skies in Massachusetts, too. Will search tonight through any breaks in the cloud cover. A meteorologist’s job is always challenging day or night!
Best Perseid meteor sightings occurred when we lived in southern Idaho from 1990 till 2000. We’ve seen a few awesome Perseid fireballs while on vacation in Wyoming or Colorado–big sky country.
August 12th, 2005 at 10:24 am
Last years Perseid’s were pretty cool. We drove out east of Denver onto the plains and hung out of the edge of some random back road next to a corn field and were treated to a great display…It was really cold though. Looks like it will be that way again this year.
August 12th, 2005 at 11:05 am
The nights are still too bright for skywatching where I live…clouds cover all of the sky too.
August 12th, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Well, it is the monsoon season in Arizona. Cloudy at night…maybe some sucker holes.
Still, the Geminids are also a great shower…northerners miss them unless you want to freeze in December…should be nice and clear for them here!
Rob
August 12th, 2005 at 12:18 pm
I live in LA, but nonetheless a few friends and I drove north until the smog subsided. I saw ~20 in maybe half an hour, but others in my party were seeing twice as many (I’m really bad at this sort of thing). A couple left very distinct trails, while others crossed 1/6 of the sky’s arc.
August 12th, 2005 at 1:55 pm
It has not rained ALL summer in the far suburban Chicago area. So, what does it do Thursday and Friday……IT RAINS! Go figure.
August 12th, 2005 at 4:18 pm
clouds and rain where I live
… will give it a try again tonight.
August 12th, 2005 at 4:54 pm
Still raining in the Chicago area.
August 12th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
Got outside on the 12th at 10:30 (UTC) for a couple of hours, based in Yeovil, UK. Averaging out at around 40 per hour (that’s with two sets of eyes) quite a good year. Usually it’s either cloudy or the moon is in the way! *rolls eyes* Saw about 10 pretty big green ones leaving nice trails too.
August 12th, 2005 at 6:25 pm
I saw one, it was so bright! I didn’t manage to see more, there’s too much light pollution where I live.
August 12th, 2005 at 11:52 pm
Rain yesterday (with lightning for a little while), clouds tonight. Sigh.
Actually, I like summer weather, especially a thunderstorm, but not when there’s a meteor shower I’d rather be enjoying!
August 13th, 2005 at 10:37 am
Figures. It clouded up here last night, immensely. I couldn’t even see the Moon. I wish I had stayed out Thursday night, but I had to go to work Friday! Arg!
Oh well. Maybe this year it’ll be clear for the Geminids…
August 13th, 2005 at 12:23 pm
It cleared up last night and we drove out about 60 miles from town around 1am….Didnt see a lot though….
August 13th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
I’ve been camping since I was knee high to a grasshopper. I’ve always enjoyed the August show
. NE Ohio is a great place to watch from and you stand a better than even chance of getting a clear night during the passage.
August 14th, 2005 at 4:54 am
I live in Honolulu, and even under the bright city lights of Downtown Honolulu, I managed to see quite a few Perseids. Nice clear skies definately helped. Especially amazing was a pair streaking parellel to each other. Kind of an underwhelming year for Perseids though. Not the best shower I’ve witnessed in recent years. Oh well, can’t expect an amazing show every year.
August 14th, 2005 at 9:20 am
Hey, I think the pair of meteors streaking beside each other would have been cool enough… how unique! (And certainly better than the clouds I saw both nights.)
In the past, I’ve witnessed meteors break up as they streak across the sky. The coolest one I saw wasn’t even during a shower, but just happened one night last summer while I was driving home. It occurred “right in front of me,” which is to say that I never would have seen it if I hadn’t been looking forward at the road. Anyway, it was bright greenish in color, and from my viewing angle appeared to be in a straight vertical dive. Suddenly, it got brighter, the color changing to a yellowish-white, and just as suddenly, the whole thing broke apart into four or five fragments that continued to fall before fading from view. Way cool!
August 14th, 2005 at 1:10 pm
Hi, I’m from Singapore. Was pretty cloudy over here too. But my friends n I managed to catch a fireball so bright it’s glow could be seen behind the patchy low clouds. Really cool!!
August 15th, 2005 at 8:30 am
I got up early Friday morning to look. Darn that marine layer! Like a
gray dome in the sky. I live in East LA county. Yeah I should have gone
over the mountains to Palmdale or the like, but I had to work Friday &
Saturday.
August 15th, 2005 at 12:14 pm
Saturday night – Watched from my back field ( Oregon) only saw one streak, but it was a beauty!
(Always enjoy your posts
August 16th, 2005 at 3:09 am
In Yorkshire it was cloudy early on Friday evening, but cleared up nicely by 11pm. It was worth the effort of geting away from light pollution for the weekend: we saw lots of Perseids, and the seeing was good too, the Milky Way is rarely that sharp.
August 22nd, 2007 at 9:12 am
Finally after 40+ years of waiting to see the Perseid’s under crystal clear conditions, my wife & I were able to see approx 20-30 per hour on the 11th.
Several were very brilliant, along with colorful shades of pale green and even yellow tint. I’ve enjoyed being an amateur astronomer since the mid 60′s, while living in the suburbs of Chicago.
Now being located in rural Ky, the light pollution is almost nothing compared to the smog & light pollution in Chicago.
Anyway just glad to have stumbled upon your blog and have added to my bookmarks for further reference on astronomical events.
Looking forward to the Alpha & Gamma Aquarids coming up through September 1-14, not very big shower. I will be looking up if the weather permits.