Comments on: Sky showers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:58:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tony in Ky http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6118 Tony in Ky Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:12:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6118 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. 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.

]]> By: Megan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6117 Megan Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:09:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6117 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. 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.

]]> By: kara http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6116 kara Mon, 15 Aug 2005 19:14:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6116 Saturday night - Watched from my back field ( Oregon) only saw one streak, but it was a beauty! (Always enjoy your posts :) Saturday night – Watched from my back field ( Oregon) only saw one streak, but it was a beauty!
(Always enjoy your posts :)

]]> By: Doug McElroy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6115 Doug McElroy Mon, 15 Aug 2005 15:30:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6115 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. 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.

]]> By: Nukescientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6114 Nukescientist Sun, 14 Aug 2005 20:10:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6114 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!! 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!!

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6113 CR Sun, 14 Aug 2005 16:20:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6113 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! 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!

]]> By: HawaiiArmenian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6112 HawaiiArmenian Sun, 14 Aug 2005 11:54:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6112 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. 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.

]]> By: Pat Dougherty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6111 Pat Dougherty Sat, 13 Aug 2005 20:28:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6111 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. 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.

]]> By: Patrick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6110 Patrick Sat, 13 Aug 2005 19:23:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6110 It cleared up last night and we drove out about 60 miles from town around 1am....Didnt see a lot though.... It cleared up last night and we drove out about 60 miles from town around 1am….Didnt see a lot though….

]]> By: The Bad Astronomer http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6109 The Bad Astronomer Sat, 13 Aug 2005 17:37:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6109 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... 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…

]]> By: CR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6108 CR Sat, 13 Aug 2005 06:52:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6108 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! 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!

]]> By: Mafalda http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6107 Mafalda Sat, 13 Aug 2005 01:25:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6107 I saw one, it was so bright! I didn't manage to see more, there's too much light pollution where I live. I saw one, it was so bright! I didn’t manage to see more, there’s too much light pollution where I live.

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6106 Paul Sat, 13 Aug 2005 00:52:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6106 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. 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.

]]> By: Russ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6105 Russ Fri, 12 Aug 2005 23:54:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6105 Still raining in the Chicago area. Still raining in the Chicago area.

]]> By: RomRod http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6104 RomRod Fri, 12 Aug 2005 23:18:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6104 clouds and rain where I live :-( ... will give it a try again tonight. clouds and rain where I live :-( … will give it a try again tonight.

]]> By: Russ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6103 Russ Fri, 12 Aug 2005 20:55:45 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6103 It has not rained ALL summer in the far suburban Chicago area. So, what does it do Thursday and Friday......IT RAINS! Go figure. It has not rained ALL summer in the far suburban Chicago area. So, what does it do Thursday and Friday……IT RAINS! Go figure.

]]> By: Randall http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6102 Randall Fri, 12 Aug 2005 19:18:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6102 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. 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.

]]> By: hale_bopp http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6101 hale_bopp Fri, 12 Aug 2005 19:14:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6101 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 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

]]> By: Henrik http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6100 Henrik Fri, 12 Aug 2005 18:05:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6100 The nights are still too bright for skywatching where I live...clouds cover all of the sky too. The nights are still too bright for skywatching where I live…clouds cover all of the sky too.

]]> By: Patrick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6099 Patrick Fri, 12 Aug 2005 17:24:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6099 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. 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.

]]> By: Chet Twarog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6098 Chet Twarog Fri, 12 Aug 2005 17:17:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6098 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. 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.

]]> By: Patrick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6097 Patrick Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:26:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6097 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. 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.

]]> By: breeze http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6096 breeze Fri, 12 Aug 2005 15:01:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6096 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 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

]]> By: Michelle Rochon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/comment-page-1/#comment-6095 Michelle Rochon Fri, 12 Aug 2005 11:43:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2005/08/12/sky-showers/#comment-6095 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! 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!

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