SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : Astronomy - any star lovers out there?
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Jon Khymn who wrote (15)11/9/1999 2:31:00 PM
From: John Inine  Read Replies (1) of 180
 
The Leonid meteor shower is named because the meteors
appear to radiate from the constellation Leo for an
observer on the Earth. It always occurs on or about
Nov. 17-18. The meteors are dust and ice particles
that are shed by the periodic comet Temple-Tuttle
which has a 33 year orbit around the sun. Hence,
every 33 years, the Earth runs into the densist part
of the particle stream. When this happens, we often
get not a meteor shower, but a meteor storm. In 1966
observers witnessed more than 10,000 meteor an hour.
The forecasts I've seen for this year are more modest.
Last year, I saw 6 to 10 fireballs bright
enought to cast shadows on the ground. Europe was most
favorably placed last year and had a very good display.
Meteor shower forecasting is very difficult because the
particles are very small and their distribution along the
orbit is not very well known. For example, last year, the
forecasts pointed to east Asia, though east Europe turned
out to be best.

You don't need any equipment, though a dark area is better.
Most meteor will come from the eastern sky. Of course, if it's cloudy, forget it.

These two articles from the Sky & Telescope web site are
good reading with some very good photos from last year.

skypub.com
skypub.com
skypub.com
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News