Meteor shower tonight...

[ARCHIVE_Wuputt]

AMA Superbike Shootout

Anybody interested in attending the AMA finals at Mid-Ohio?
Event is scheduled for Sept. 29 - Oct. 1
If anyone is, check out midohio.com for more info and tickets.
PM me, we can arrange to hook up, I will be there most of the weekend.

 

[Blagadán]

If you have a clear sky tonight, look up. Expected to be about 60-75 "shooting stars" per hour. Known as Perseids meteor shower. Was out lastnight with my kids, lying back on the trampolene in the garden. Some awsome streaks across the sky.
Have a better night here tonight, clear sky, just heading out again...

 

[lowlife]

I'm not an astronomer so here goes. Is your sky the same as my sky just at a different time? Or doesn't it matter as long as we are both in the northern hemisphere? My ignorance is showing.

 

[Blagadán]

I'm not an astronomer so here goes. Is your sky the same as my sky just at a different time? Or doesn't it matter as long as we are both in the northern hemisphere? My ignorance is showing.

Same sky, different time. I aint an astronomer either LL, My 8 yr old son has developed an interest in the night sky, We got him a telescope last christmas, and he is getting into it pretty good recently. That means I'm tagging along, keeping him company out in the garden! I'm learning stuff as I go along, big dipper and what not... lol

b

 

[lowlife]

I have enjoyed watching the stars for a while now, seems I never get to take the time to enjoy the important things in life sometimes. It was cloudy last night, I went out a couple of times.

 

[Blagadán]

It wasnt as impressive as I expected it to be TBH LL. there were a few good ones but generally not awe inspiring. Best thing about the night was.... my wife, my 2 kids & I, lying back on a trampolene staring at the sky, with blankets and flashlights, telling jokes and stuff waiting for the next meteor to streak past.. Dont get to do that too often... was nice.

 

[wuputt]

I was out on the deck tippin a few late sat. nite. I thought I better quit after I saw the fifth shooter! Thanks Blag. I can start drinking again!!

 

[Stormy]

I'm a bit of an amateur astronomer, I've been into it for the last 15 odd years, but my interest is lagging now, as I need a bigger telescope and to buy a real big telescope (10 inches and over) you are starting to look at spending thousands of dollars, (starting from $2k to $10 - $15k for the Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains) to say nothing of buying decent eyepieces, I don't have that sort of money at present.

If you or your son need to know anything, Blag, just email me at I'll see what I can do to help. There are some great, free astromomy computer programs to download from http://www.stargazing.net/AstroTips/english/index.html so you or your son can check to see whats going on in the night sky any time of year, but the best computer program is IMO is "Starry Night", I have a free version of "Starry Night Enthusiast' here if you want it, just email me and I'll burn you a copy of the installation program to post to you, as it's about 300mb or download a free trial copy of the "Starry Night Basic" version from http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Business/Educational_Tools/Starry_Night_Basic.html(download size : 4,757K).

If anyone wants viewing times (for the Northern Hemisphere), either email me or go to my other website at http://www.hotkey.net.au/~mattakana/nws&prwai.html for the Southern Hemisphere. The zenith hourly peak of the Persids meteor shower activity is on the 13th, but the meteor shower activity will last until the 24th August.

There are meteor showers pretty much every month, but the best ones are the "Persids", the "Orionids" and the "Leonids", the best are the "Leonids" IMO, in November. To find out what meteor showers are happening in which month, go to http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?meteor_streams for more information.

Mick.