Comments on: Leonid meteors tonight!

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:09:30 +0000

Must they schedule these things on work nights? Sheesh!

By: J Earley

J Earley — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:29:32 +0000

Here in Oregon, there is fog, rain or snow right now, depending on location. Bummer.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:46:50 +0000

So I hauled myself out of my nice warm comfy bed at 3:30 a.m., got bundled up, and headed out with camera and tripod. Watched the setting moon and was thankful for clear skies and mild weather. And waited. And waited. And for my hour and a half of standing out there taking long exposures and hoping, all I saw were about 4 little pffft!s, winkly little piddly meteors that I would have missed had I blinked. The predictions of this year’s Leonid shower being a poor showing were understated, this was the non-event of the season. Let’s hope the Geminids put on a better show!

By: Sam H

Sam H — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:02:34 +0000

Unfortunately there’ll be no stargazing for me for the foreseeable future – you won’t believe the snow up here in Calgary. At least I found a place almost 100 km south of the city that I and Sadie (8-inch dob) went to in August – ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! We saw the nebulae in Sagittarius, M81 and M82, Andromeda and Triangulum (galaxies!), M13, Jupiter – and more !! Only thing I didn’t find was the Bubble Nebula…
Can’t wait for the snow to settle (and school to end!)

By: Thomas Beck

Thomas Beck — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Last Friday and Saturday around 4 pm EST, while driving towards Philadelphia, I saw what had to be meteors in the sky a little bit to the north of due West. They looked at first like contrails in the blue sky, but there were so many of them! At least 4 or 5 at a time, all plunging downward. I saw them Friday between 4 and 5 p.m., and then again in the exact same place at the exact same time on Saturday. They couldn’t have been jet trails because there were so many of them, in the same place, at the same time of day on two successive days. Were those the Leonids? Or, if not, what were they? Thanks!

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:55:22 +0000

Another website that I think is pretty good is the meteor showers online one :

http://meteorshowersonline.com/index.html

with their page on the Leonids here :

http://meteorshowersonline.com/leonids.html

Also remember folks that the nights / mornings on either side of the meteor shower peak can sometimes be pretty great as well.

So it still might not be too late leonids~wise tonight /’morrow – That’s certainly what I’m hoping anyway.

By: Neil Haggath

Neil Haggath — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:54:58 +0000

#5 Kevin:
It means midnight local time. Regardless of your location, you’re likely to see more meteors in the morning, after local midnight, because then you’re on the leading side of the Earth. Before local midnight, you’re on the trailing side. See Phil’s analogy about bugs on your windscreen.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:45:59 +0000

Cloudy here, alas. Last few nights and morns. Plus a fairly large amount of moonlight & plenty of trees and other objects blocking the horizon to say nothing of the whopping, horrid streetlight that’s right outside my door. Sigh.

I’ll see how it goes tomorrow morn perhaps but I’m not expecting much this time.

By: This x That: Know This: Nancy Pelosi elected minority leader… | Thavage Amusement - Your daily dose of humor, jokes and mirth

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 12:14:00 +0000

[...] PSA: The Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight. [...]

By: John

John — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 02:28:58 +0000

I’ll second the motion on the hot tub. Even better for northern lights.

By: This x That: Know This: Nancy Pelosi elected minority leader… | weeklypop

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 01:10:00 +0000

[...] PSA: The Leonid meteor shower peaks tonight. [...]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:01:13 +0000

9. I know my wife was in Italy last Oct-Nov. and it varied from warm and sunny to cool and wet with the passage of a cold front. If you just got a cold front, it’s probably cloudy.

Still, your Mediterrean weather is fantastic overall. I like it better than here in Florida because here it is too tropical.

By: markogts

markogts — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:59:15 +0000

Guess the weather here in Italy… :-$

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 18:18:19 +0000

Big Sur, baby!!!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:55:35 +0000

I can’t wait to view the meteor shower tonight. I’ve found a ton of great viewing information on this site: http://www.spacedex.com/leonids/ – I hope everyone enjoys the show!

By: Michel

Michel — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 17:43:36 +0000

Yesterday was a very nice clear night.
Nice views of the Moon and Jupiter.
So tonight, with something more special to see, it´s clouded. Till saterday night.
Tomorrow I´m gonna buy me some clear weather bracelets!
With potent holograms. Maybe that will teach those weather gods a lesson.
Anyway…
“(the kind that opens up so you can lie on it)”
*drags his wife on the veranda*
I like your good advice.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:51:33 +0000

When you say midnight, I assume it’s meant to be local time? Is there some website to check where they can be seen from and what times?
If what is meant is midnight regardless of location, then how do the physics of that work?

By: Naomi

Naomi — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:46:43 +0000

Not really on-topic, but Phil, there’s an article here you might find interesting – http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/8340141/scientists-needed-more-than-ever-says-pm/ Regarding a new science education program in Australia.

Just… don’t read the comments. Yahoo News commentors are… not the brightest.

By: Old Muley

Old Muley — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:37:24 +0000

Looks like I’m gonna get skunked again this year. The forecast here in Titletown is for clouds and a chance of rain until tomorrow (11/18) morning.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:31:40 +0000

I watched the Perseids in the Florida Keys about midnight about a year ago. It is very dark, but mosquito infested. I counted 60 meteors in my sitting, some duds, some really bright bolides.

I havn’t seen the Leonids because I live nearer to Ft. Lauderdale with a lot of city lights. The only time I saw the Andromeda Galaxy here was after hurricane Wilma, which dosed the city lights, and oh boy, was it great without all that man made pollution!

By: TSFrost

TSFrost — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:18:04 +0000

Beach chair? Bah! I love watching meteor showers from the comfort and warmth of my hot tub.