Strong Leonid meteor shower peaks early Tuesday morning
The best seats are in Asia, but North American observers should be treated to an above average performance of the Leonid meteor shower, weather permitting. The trick for all observers is to head outside in the wee hours of the morning – between 1 a.m. and dawn – regardless where you live.
The Leonids put on a solid show every year, if skies are clear and moonlight does not interfere. This year the moon is near its new phase, and not a factor. For anyone in the Northern Hemisphere with dark skies, away from urban and suburban lighting, the show should be worth getting up early to see.
"We're predicting 20 to 30 meteors per hour over the Americas, and as many as 200 to 300 per hour over Asia," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. Other astronomers who work in the nascent field of meteor shower prediction have put out similar forecasts.
Urban dwellers and suburbanites will see far fewer, as the fainter meteors will be drowned out by local lights.
(more at link)
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- Vierotchka
- added this
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Thanks V, the last clear night I watched this it was extraordinary. We don't look up at our universe nearly enough.
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this is gonna be cool!!
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Have attended every year and this never ceases to amaze me. :) I'll be out there joining you.
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Lucky asia residents. . . 200-300 meteors per hour. I'll be lucky if I get ten
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I will also be getting up at zero-dark-thirty to watch the fireworks. Thanks Vierotchka.
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so any angelinos want to come to griffith park, i'll be there.
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- RaceBannon
- 4 days ago
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So say I live in Southern California, what are the chances that I'll get a decent show?
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- amphigoryglory
- 4 days ago
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current's favoritism at it's finest!
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What on earth are you talking about, KSirys?
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- Vierotchka
- 4 days ago
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This will be my first time viewing this shower. A friend of mine told me about it last night and said it was awesome. I'm looking forward to it.
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A must see, thanks, Vierotchka!
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- nursediesel
- 4 days ago
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Yep! This is worth getting up to see. There is a nice dark road about three miles from the house . The wife and I can make a date of it. Thank you for posting this:-)
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City folks can't see em, how just.
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if your watching from your car, tune your f.m. radio to the left. find a blank spot near 91.1 and with luck you'll catch a "ping", a signal reflected off the ionized vapor trail. you may hear england but mostly pops and scratches shortly after you see a good one.
i call listening to a meteor shower; shades of tesla. -
Damn you city lights! I actually wake up early for work so I will try to catch a couple but I doubt it because I live in the middle of San Antonio, a very bright city. Thanks for the heads up though Vierotchka.
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- FishaHouse777
- 4 days ago
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I wish we could do away with street lights. They are a waste of energy and don't allow us to truly see at night.
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My eyes are going to be the window to the universe tonight.
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- Curtis_Wright
- 4 days ago
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This will be great, living in Idaho and all.. It's so dark here, you can see star clusters at night.
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pretty cool
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Damn you light pollution! Well, its a pretty clear night tonight so I might try anyway.
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It's rainy in Hawaii tonight !!! Let's see if it clears up by 1 am because i SOOOO don't want to miss this !!
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- SunisinLeo
- 4 days ago
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i wish i can go to Bumfuck, Country right now.
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- andeeandee
- 4 days ago
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Weak.
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- ibrake4rappers13
- 4 days ago
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Sadly [despite the clear weather] Dallas, TX is far too plagued by light pollution to really see anything :[
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- BleachCore_912
- 4 days ago
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ooh! i was worried earlier when I couldnt see anything but I'll pop out now and see what's there...in NJ
