Perseid Meteor SHower through Aug 15

[neilsox]

If the average speed is 10,000 miles per hour while incandescent, and it is incandescent for 1000 miles, that is 6 minutes. Typical meteors last seconds, so apparently they crumble to fine dust in just a few miles, decelerate and cool down below incandescent temperature in just a few miles. Neil

 

[MeteorWayne]

Wow, this thread disappeareded quickly - but there was one meteror sighting last night in Tucson, AZ - that's all folks - pretty quick, tell me Wayne - how long does it take for a meteor to cross the sky???

The Perseids are moving ~ 59 km/sec (~ 37 miles/sec) and are visible from about 100 to 80 km in the atmosphere, so less than a half second is about average. The exception would be ones that just graze the atmosphere when the radiant (in Perseus) is very close to the horizon (early evening) which may take a second or two to cross much of the sky.

 

[crazyeddie]

So, how was the peak display this year? Any reports of clusters of high activity?

 

[MeteorWayne]

The preliminary data (not QA'd) reported to the IMO here:

http://www.imo.net/live/perseids2009/

shows two peaks with a ZHR of ~ 170 at 0800 UTC and 1700 UTC August 12th. (0400 EDT, 0100 PDT on the morning of the 12th, and 1PM EDT (10 AM PDT) on the afternoon of the 12th.

Unfortunately, I was not able to contribute due to the clouds that have plagued the northeast since May

 

[crazyeddie]

Unfortunately, I was not able to contribute due to the clouds that have plagued the northeast since May

Same here.....this time of year, the clouds roll in off the ocean at night, regular as clockwork, then burn off the next morning. You have to drive 'way inland to get a clear view, darn it!

 

[MeteorWayne]

Actually my clearest and darkest sky observing night in my meteor career was about 50 miles east of San Diego in the mountains for the 2000 (?) Geminids. Up there, the coastal clouds are a benefit as they block the light from the city and improve the sky darkness.

 

[starlightgirl]

I went out into the Valley of Fire outside Las Vegas, Nevada to view the Perseid Meteor shower this year...this is my recap: http://lfeonplanetone.blogspot.com/2009 ... rt-in.html

Did I go out at the wrong time? I also saw one on Aug 13 from my bedroom window despite the lights of the city, it was about 4:30am.

Living in the desert I see shooting stars often but nothing like when the Perseid meteor showers hit (August) or the Leonids (November) depending on moonlight and cloud cover.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Based on IMO data, you missed the annual peak by a day, and a surprising final peak by a few hours...of course the moon didn't help; hiding the fainter shower members.

And BTW, facing directly at the radiant the way you did is not the best way to see the most meteors.

 

[Intell212]

Watching the Perseids Meteor shower in SC about 3:05 AM EDT near the northwestern sky, I observed what I think may have been a dying star. I have watched the sky for years, but have never seen anything like this. It was a spot (star) which suddenly brightened and appeared to 'mushroom out' then looked as if it was sucked back in towards the spot where it was originally and then there was nothing there.

Did anyone else see this, anything like it, know where I can look for information on whether this event was recorded? I don't believe it was a meteor as it was so small and did not streak across the sky. This was a stationary object which changed then disappeared.

I'd be interested in knowing if anyone else saw this, if anyone else saw it, or if it was a recorded event.

Thanks and have fun "looking up".

Intell212

 

[MeteorWayne]

In reality, it wan't quite stationary. What you saw is called an Iridium Flare. It's a short duraction reflection from the antenna of a bunch of communication satellites called Iridium. There is a site where you can get predictions of when they are visible: http://www.heavens-above.com , it sounds like you saw a particularly bright one. The brightest can be 40 or more times brighter than Venus at it's brightest...bright enough to cast shadows. The brightest part of the flare lasts 5-10 seconds.

 

[snowy062]

Well, at least you don't have to worry about the lights of any big cities spoiling the view. No air pollution to speak of. How big is Terrace Bay? Used to live almost due south on the UP shore.

Terrace Bay is just a wee speck..not much more than @2,100 residents. Without our Mill operating right now,any air pollution or "clouds" emminating from the smoke stacks isn't a concern when viewing the sky.Very few lights to obscure the night sky,therefore makes watching the heavens a very peaceful and enjoyable way to spend a bit of time. Nothing better than to sit out on the second story deck, overlooking lake Superior, waiting to see if I'll catch a glimpse of any shooting stars.During the last Perseid shower,I again lucked out and was able to see a couple shooting stars,this time not heading out over the lake,but traveling in a completely different direction...and these ones were very fast,split second and they were gone. Sky wise,anything happening this month?

 

[Molodei]

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I know a part of you knows Russian, so I invite you to our sites to have conversation and maybe both-owned business. A greate specialists are existing at our sites. By the way, we know English.