Comments on: Geminids! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/ 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. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:56:50 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: BigJohn756 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25662 BigJohn756 Sat, 16 Dec 2006 02:05:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25662 Smoking dulls your vision... Smoking dulls your vision…

]]> By: SpikeNut http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25661 SpikeNut Sat, 16 Dec 2006 00:34:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25661 We went outside last night hoping that the solar flare was strong enough to cause aurorae all the way down to Ohio. But either there weren't any, or the sky brightness was too high. Either way we didn't see any. BUT, we did see a nice showing from the meteor shower. After we saw the first three in less than two minute, all coming from the same direction, Rob remembered that the Geminids were going on. We were out for about 20 minutes and saw about 10. We went outside last night hoping that the solar flare was strong enough to cause aurorae all the way down to Ohio. But either there weren’t any, or the sky brightness was too high. Either way we didn’t see any. BUT, we did see a nice showing from the meteor shower. After we saw the first three in less than two minute, all coming from the same direction, Rob remembered that the Geminids were going on. We were out for about 20 minutes and saw about 10.

]]> By: Ed http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25660 Ed Fri, 15 Dec 2006 19:43:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25660 I watched the geminids from a local park in northern colorado. It was partly cloudy, with openings from orion to cassiopeia. I saw about 10 meteors in about 30 minutes. not too bad considering the light polution and cloud cover. Around 2am a police officer drove by and asked me what I was doing in the park, since it is supposed to be closed. I told him I was watching the geminids, and lo and behold, he actually knew what they were! He even said that he took a few minutes and saw some when he was farther north (out of town and much darker). He left me alone, since I wasn't doing drugs, drinking, or as he put it, making out in the back seat... I watched the geminids from a local park in northern colorado. It was partly cloudy, with openings from orion to cassiopeia. I saw about 10 meteors in about 30 minutes. not too bad considering the light polution and cloud cover. Around 2am a police officer drove by and asked me what I was doing in the park, since it is supposed to be closed. I told him I was watching the geminids, and lo and behold, he actually knew what they were! He even said that he took a few minutes and saw some when he was farther north (out of town and much darker). He left me alone, since I wasn’t doing drugs, drinking, or as he put it, making out in the back seat…

]]> By: big mess http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25648 big mess Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:03:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25648 I saw two last night in west Tennessee. They looked so close to the ground that (1) I expected to hear the explosion from the impact, and (2) for a while there I was a little scared one would hit me. I saw two last night in west Tennessee. They looked so close to the ground that (1) I expected to hear the explosion from the impact, and (2) for a while there I was a little scared one would hit me.

]]> By: Astrogirl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25659 Astrogirl Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:45:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25659 Well, it turns out that it was clear last night! Got to see a few more Geminids. Was very nice out for December. Also watched a satellite go by through binoculars. Very cool! Well, it turns out that it was clear last night! Got to see a few more Geminids. Was very nice out for December. Also watched a satellite go by through binoculars. Very cool!

]]> By: Foggy http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25658 Foggy Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:00:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25658 Lucky America! Here in England we sit downwind of 3000 miles of ocean and the result is 100% cloud cover nearly all the time. The result is that I have never once seen the Leonids or Geminids in my entire life (boo hoo). It amazes me today that so much good astromony was done in England (Flamsteed, Herschel, Halley, et al.) in ye olden days. The patience of those guys must have been immense. Lucky America! Here in England we sit downwind of 3000 miles of ocean and the result is 100% cloud cover nearly all the time. The result is that I have never once seen the Leonids or Geminids in my entire life (boo hoo).

It amazes me today that so much good astromony was done in England (Flamsteed, Herschel, Halley, et al.) in ye olden days. The patience of those guys must have been immense.

]]> By: bad Jim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/comment-page-1/#comment-25647 bad Jim Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:44:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/12/14/geminids/#comment-25647 On Tuesday night, in coastal Southern California, I went outside for a cigarette and saw a couple of very bright meteors, complete with trails. I wondered if there was a satellite burning up. Saw another one on another smoke break. Last night, finally aware that the Geminids were upon us, I was particularly attentive but only caught one out of the corner of my eye. Didn't stay up late enough for the main show, though, and there was a light cloud layer. Tonight it's clear, and nothing so far. On Tuesday night, in coastal Southern California, I went outside for a cigarette and saw a couple of very bright meteors, complete with trails. I wondered if there was a satellite burning up. Saw another one on another smoke break.

Last night, finally aware that the Geminids were upon us, I was particularly attentive but only caught one out of the corner of my eye. Didn’t stay up late enough for the main show, though, and there was a light cloud layer. Tonight it’s clear, and nothing so far.

]]>