tagged w/ Shooting Stars
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One of the best opportunities for sky watching and time-lapse photography is right around the corner. The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks August 12-13 above North American skies, and forecasters are expecting a lively show – about 80 meteors per hour during peak display!
Unlike last year’s showers, which were nearly ruined by exceedingly bright moonlight, the prospect of exceptional viewing conditions has made for a prime viewing experience thus far.
The meteor shower is the result of debris from the comet Swift-Tuttle, the largest known object to make repeated passes by the Earth. Although the Swift-Tuttle has not been observed by astronomers since 1992, the trail of meteors left by its debris has become known as the Perseids.
Also known as “The Tears of St. Laurence,” the meteor shower earned its second name because of the proximity of the commemoration for the Christian deacon’s death to the appearance of the shooting stars. The shower draws its common name from its close proximity to the “Double Star Cluster” of Perseus.
READ MORE: http://morichesdaily.com/2010/08/perseid-meteor-shower-viewing-guide-york/One of the best opportunities for sky watching and time-lapse photography is right... more
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Excerpt:
Coming fast on the heels of its more famous cousin the Leonid meteor shower—which peaked less than a month ago—the Geminid show should feature as many as 140 shooting stars per hour between Sunday evening and Monday morning.
The Geminids are slow meteors that create beautiful long arcs across the sky—many lasting a second or two.
(click on the link)Excerpt:
Coming fast on the heels of its more famous cousin the Leonid meteor... more
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One of the best annual meteor showers will peak in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, and for some skywatchers the show could be quite impressive.
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)One of the best annual meteor showers will peak in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, and for... more
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Little Britain and Shooting Stars' Matt Lucas has taken a break from the West End play 'Prick Up Your Ears' after his former lover Kevin McGee.
McGee was found hanged on Monday after updating his Facebook status with "Kevin McGee thinks that death is much better than life."
The couple "married" in December 2006 and threw a pantomime-themed celebration atttended by friends including Sir Elton John, Will Young and Paul O'Grady. The pair went their separate ways civil partnership 10 months ago on the grounds of McGee's unreasonable behaviour, which The Sun suggests involved drug-taking.Little Britain and Shooting Stars' Matt Lucas has taken a break from the West End... more
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richjm
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added this
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2 years ago
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Surreal comedy quiz show Shooting Stars will return for a full series on BBC Two this autumn.
Will this be as good as originals??Surreal comedy quiz show Shooting Stars will return for a full series on BBC Two this... more
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