The Leonids Peak Tonight

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  • 11-16-2004, 05:49 AM
    Speed
    The Leonids Peak Tonight
  • 11-16-2004, 08:42 AM
    Chunk
    Re: The Leonids Peak Tonight
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Speed

    Thanks Speed. I hope the weather clears here.
  • 11-16-2004, 09:34 AM
    Speed
    I hope the weather clears here
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chunk
    Thanks Speed. I hope the weather clears here.


    Ditto! I've got overcast skies right now! :-(

    Hopefully it will clear up tonight.
  • 11-16-2004, 12:07 PM
    opus
    Re: I hope the weather clears here
    "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the Leonids peak tonight ... "
  • 11-17-2004, 06:16 AM
    Speed
    The Weather Cleared Here In NC...
    And I saw a grand total of one (1) meteor, and that was while I was setting up my camera!

    I spent nearly two hours out (10pm to midnight) and shot about 20 frames hoping to catch a meteor or two. Maybe I'll get some nice constellation shots.

    Anyone have better luck?
  • 11-17-2004, 08:08 AM
    Chunk
    Re: The Weather Cleared Here In NC...
    All clouds in southern Wisconsin.
    Wait'll next year!
  • 11-17-2004, 09:35 AM
    walterick
    I chickened out...
    Hey Speedo thanks for making this post I had actually forgotten until I saw it...

    Unfortunately I was feeling very homely last night and didn't make it out. We had clear skies here after about 10pm. I sat by the window for a while looking at the cold and scanning the skies for meteors but didn't see any. I guess this was a (very) off year? The normal rate for a <i>non-shower night</i> is about 5/hr!

    Anyways, Geminids? :)

    Rick
  • 11-17-2004, 10:00 AM
    opus
    Re: I chickened out...
    just a comment about you feeling "homely" last night... I felt the same way too. I was of a very strong mindset last night that I just neeeeded to stay in the warm comfort of my little house and not set foot outside.

    Winter must be just around the corner.
  • 11-18-2004, 06:33 AM
    Speed
    Anyways, Geminids? :)
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by walterick
    Hey Speedo thanks for making this post I had actually forgotten until I saw it...

    Unfortunately I was feeling very homely last night and didn't make it out. We had clear skies here after about 10pm. I sat by the window for a while looking at the cold and scanning the skies for meteors but didn't see any. I guess this was a (very) off year? The normal rate for a <i>non-shower night</i> is about 5/hr!

    Anyways, Geminids? :)

    Rick


    Rickster,

    I'm always game for a good meteor shower. And one day, I'm going to catch one of those outstanding shots like you see in Astronomy or Sky and Telescope. ;-)

    I think you are right about this being an off-year. Usually after a meteor shower, Sky and Telescope will post a couple of shots. They haven't posted any this time.
  • 11-18-2004, 01:45 PM
    Chunk
    Re: The Leonids Peak Tonight
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Speed

    Do these folks have the date wrong??
    http://spaceweather.com/
  • 11-18-2004, 02:25 PM
    Speed
    Do these folks have the date wrong??
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Chunk
    Do these folks have the date wrong??
    http://spaceweather.com/


    Now that's very curious!

    Meteor showers usually last for a week or two, with some, like the Taurids, lasting nearly a month. But the peak is the peak (or so I thought). How they come up with two different peaks is beyond me!!! So maybe Friday night will be a good night.

    BTW, usual meteor activity is 6 to 10 meteors an hour. A rate of 5 to 15 an hour is a weak shower. The difference is, there should be 5 to 15 Leonids per hour, in addition to the usual transient meteors. Also, Leonids are famous for being pretty bright and leaving lingering trails, which might last for half a second to several seconds. They should make for nice photo's if you can capture a few.