* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Perseid meteor shower

Blobrana · L

This year, the Perseids maximum is predicted to occur between 17:30-20:00 UT, 12th August 12. The Zenithal Hourly Rates (ZHR) will be around 80-100. The meteors would radiate from RA = 03h 16m, Dec = +58° in the constellation Perseus. Because the Perseid radiant has a high northern declination, most northern hemisphere observers can see meteors throughout the night.
For Britain the radiant is usefully observable at about 22:00 UT.
Esko Lyytinen has predicted that the Earth could encounter two meteoroid cloud streams earlier on the 12th August; at 05:00 UT, produced by parent comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle's 1862 return, (ZHR +10), and at 09:00 UT produced from the 1610 comet's perihelion, (ZHR + 10-100).
A Last quarter Moon on August 13, means that the waning Moon will interfere with observations of fainter meteors.
The showers active period is between 17th July to the 24th August.

Blobrana · L

Plan for Perseid meteor shower 2009: Prime spots and camp-outs in California
Move over, total solar eclipse (we might have asked more politely if you'd bothered at all with the Western Hemisphere). The glitzy Perseid meteor shower is coming to town. The annual sky-showering event starts in late July and goes into August, with the peak this year expected Aug. 12, according to Sky & Telescope magazine. On this date, we can expect as many as 60 meteors streaking the sky per hour.

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Blobrana · L

Perseid meteor shower

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Blobrana · L

One, the old-fashioned way: Find a dark place with starry skies and count the meteors streaking overhead. Two, the new way: Find a dark place with starry skies and then completely ignore the meteors. Instead, watch the Moon. That's where the explosions are.
On August 9th, a pair of amateur astronomers on opposite sides of the United States did it the new way. With the Perseid meteor shower just underway, they fixed their cameras on the Moon and watched meteoroids slam into the lunar surface. Silent explosions equivalent to ~100 lbs of TNT produced flashes of light visible a quarter of a million miles away on Earth. It was a good night for "lunar Perseids."

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Blobrana · L

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Blobrana · L

Shower	Activity Period	Maximum		Radiant		V_infty	r	ZHR	Time (UTC)
		Date	sol	a	d	km/s
Perseids (PER)	Jul 17 - Aug 24	Aug 12	140°0	46°	+58°	59	2.6	100	11h20
Source : IMO

Blobrana · L

On a clear evening nearly 175 years ago, people looking skyward witnessed whats still considered to be the greatest meteor show on earth.
It was mid November in 1833 when the meteors shot across the night sky, catching many peoples attention and interest.
Just in time for the upcoming Perseid Meteor Showers, historical astronomer John Horrigan will stop by the South Shore Natural Science Centre for an interactive discussion on stars.
The program is to be held Saturday, Aug. 9 from 8 to 10 p.m. at the science centre.

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Blobrana · L

Bring a blanket, lie on the grass and watch one of the best shows of summer at the Perseids meteor shower on Aug. 12 from 7:30 p.m to 11 p.m. at Aldergrove Lake Park.
Enter on Lefeuvre Road between 8th and 0 Avenues in Aldergrove. Cost is $2 per person.
Join Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Astronomers and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Vancouver Centre for this stellar event.

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Blobrana · L

The annual Perseid meteor shower -- perfectly punctual specks of cosmic dirt puncturing Earth's atmosphere at high speed -- peaks the night-early morning of Aug. 11-12. Barring cloudy skies, these shooting stars are best seen in the wee hours of the morning.
The evening of Aug. 11 begins with Jupiter and the gibbous moon loitering in the eastern heavens. The bright moon sets about 1:51 a.m. in the west Aug. 12, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. This makes the night sky dark enough to enjoy meteors.

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