Here you go sky otter! This weekend!
August 10, 2012: On the nights of Aug. 11th through 13th, the best meteor shower of the year will fill pre-dawn skies with hundreds of shooting stars. And that's just for starters. The brightest planets in the solar system are lining up right in the middle of the display.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the nights around August 12th as Earth passes through a stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle.
"We expect to see meteor rates as high as a hundred per hour," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "The Perseids always put on a good show."
Perseids can be seen any time after 10 to 11 pm. The best time to look, however, is during the dark hours immediately before dawn. Also, advises Cooke, avoid city lights if possible. Faint meteors are easily lost in the urban glare. A visit to the countryside will typically triple the number of meteors you see.
This year's display is extra-special because of the planets. Jupiter, Venus, and the crescent Moon are gathering together just as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. The alignment occurs in the eastern sky before sunrise on the three mornings of highest meteor activity.
On August 11th, a 33% crescent Moon will glide by Jupiter, temporarily forming a bright pair directly above brilliant Venus. Red-giant star Aldebaran will be there, too, adding a splash of color to the gathering.
2012 Perseid Meteor Shower (app, 200px
NASA's Meteor Counter app helps citizen scientists contribute to authentic research. Pick Android or Apple
On August 12th, the narrowing 24% crescent Moon will drop down between Jupiter and Venus. Together they make a bright 3-point line in the sky, frequently bisected by shooting stars.
On August 13th, with the shower just beginning to wane, the planets put on their best show yet: The 17% crescent moon will pass less than 3 degrees from Venus as Jupiter hovers overhead. Sky watchers say there's nothing prettier than a close encounter between the slender crescent Moon and Venus--nothing, that is, except for the crescent Moon, Venus and a flurry of Perseids.
(http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2010/08/05/Pete-Lawrence2_med.jpg/image_mini)
Aldebaran will be there, too, adding a splash of color to the gathering. Say hello to the Vril!
I think the sky will be clear here in Ohio and Pa. Get out those camp recliners!
;D
(http://i35.servimg.com/u/f35/13/55/53/83/80933810.gif)
hey Cosmo
we're ready.... those nifty chairs are in position and the beer is cooling and i have a really good new recipe for white pizza...
all we need now is for the rain clouds to clear out....last two years have been a bust becasue of the clouds..sigh
today is hubby's birthday and that wonderful guy is installing a new dryer for me.. so i am making some good eats for him as we sit out there and watch the stars..
the simple life really is great
wavin at cha and hopin you get some meteor shower viewing in also
;D 8)
O wow thanks for the info Cosmo :)
The windows in my Batcave face east, going for a look now...
See ya later, and i want to see some pics, folks!
8)
To clarify, it's 7 hours later here, & i have my first drink in 6 days, a Gargle-blaster (Whiskey, ginger wine, cola)
Cool ;D
My hubby is almost a birthday twin with otter's hubby. Mine had a b-day yesterday. I would really like to see the meteor shower, but it's hard to get away from the light pollution here. Plus, it's been overcast. Have to see what I can contrive. It used to be easier. My daughter and I were able to see Halley's comet when it came through last. My grandma saw it the time befoee that, when she was growing up in western Wyoming.
Shasta
Perseid meteor shower:
NASA explains why it'll be the year's bestSOURCE (http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-perseid-meteor-shower-primer-20120810,0,5668106.story)
(http://i.space.com/images/i/11534/original/perseid-meteor-shower-2011-space-station.jpg?1313417882)
NASA astronaut Ron Garan took this photograph during the Perseid meteor shower on Aug. 13, 2011 from the International Space Station.
CREDIT: NASA/Ron Garan (@Astro_Ron)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iH0cusRsxdw/Tpo0tUpV9yI/AAAAAAAADsQ/IgbkxrVB9fk/s1600/meteor-shower-orionid.jpg)
(http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Deck-chair-meteor.jpg) (http://granmisterio.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/deck-chair-meteor.jpg)
Credit APOD/ Adrian West Click image for full size
(http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Perseid-fireball.jpg)
Perseid fireball. Image Credit: Pierre Martin of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada.
(http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/files/2009/10/netherlands_meteor.jpg)
(http://img.freeforumzone.it/upload/808965_Lovato.jpg) (http://www.tovima.gr/oldPhotos/Article%20Photos/20100823/349912.jpg)
Thanks for the reminder, Cosmo, Ill be out and about!
Le
Nice pics Z!
It was cloudy here the last two nights and even some showers. Right now it is a perfectly clear sky and I hope it holds through tonight. Did anybody get any viewing in or see any meteors the last couple nights?
Didn't see a thing except commercial jets ::)
Besides, way too much light pollution around here.
Hope somebody posts some good pics...
nothing.. clouded over for the third year in a row.. kicking cans and growling..grrrrrrrr
seems we are having the same weather cosmo..it sucks
went from 90's last week to 60 something for the last two days and still overcast
and damp.
nawwwww no climate change going on at all..
Sorry some here didnt have good conditions :(, we saw about 20-30 of them coming and going all directions, mostly in the west/northwestern sky to above us A few were quite large lasting 3-4 seconds or more, but mostly little bitty ones you had to be fast to see!
Our viewing was around 1am from the west coast of Florida.
Cheers!
Dave
Yeah, total wash here, oh well....there's always next year. I would like to be at altitude somewhere in the southwest on a clear night. Maybe next year.
Wow, Cosmo, sorry to hear about the crappy weather there, too.
I feel like the guy who got the last 20-30 shrimp at the peel and eat buffet!
Next time, Im filming it and editing the Persieds into a neat little video for all the folks with bad weather conditions!
As such, due to rain clouds, I didnt get to see the transit of Venus earlier this year though, so Im sure I really missed out on those shrimp...
Le
I should have got my camera and tripod out to record it. Night of 11th and 13th were a wash but the 12th was able to see about a dozen or so.