meteor shower tonight! (1 Viewer)

[Sue Wright]

Oooh Rozinante, don't start on about the joys of camping, I can't wait to get off again and enjoy all of the above mentioned, total bliss! Some of the starry skies seen then are marvellous and millions more stars than normal.

I saw a couple last night, but we'll not see a thing here tonight as it's raining and not a star in sight.

Sue.

 

[Paminfra]

I love looking at them in the winter - the sky here is so big and there's absolutely no light pollution. I'm currently saving up for a new 'scope to make the most of it all! Any recommendations which won't break the bank, please?

 

[PeterK]

Hi All As this is developing so much interest among everybody I thought some technical explanation might be of interest. The dust cloud that the meteors develop out of is from the comet Swift-tuttle, the comet orbits the Sun every 132 years, and when close to the Sun emits a huge amount of particles and dust into it tail, it is the passing of the Earth, every August, through the tail of the comet that produces the Firework display known as the Persieds Meteor shower ( they apparently eminate from the Persius area of the night sky). Once in every orbit about the Sun it increases the amount of material in its tail, and hence gives earth dwellers a super shower to see, last Super shower was in 1992, as the years move on the dust and particles get mopped up by other planets and asteroid the the show get less spectacular as time progresses, come back in 2124 for next Super Super swift-Tuttle Show.

Good Star Gazing PeterK

 

[Pam_m]

Thanks for all the information Peter:t:

It was cloudy here last night, to be honest I felt too tired to stay awake anyway! I suppose a clear sky would have enticed me though!o

 

[Ruth Daniel]

Thanks for the info Peter!:t:
I was awake at 3am and then 4.30am but it was raining both times!:-C

 

[Pam_m]

Thanks for the info Peter!:t:
I was awake at 3am and then 4.30am but it was raining both times!:-C

Ruth you will have to stop singing in the shower.....