Perseids

azure

azure

Final Approach
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azure
So did anyone else try to catch them over the last two night?

Tuesday night was completely overcast here, but last night it had cleared out by 2100 or so. I drove up to the airport around 2350 to see what I could see. By the time I got there the clouds had already started to roll in. I saw two in the NE sky within seconds of setting up on the ramp, and a couple more before it had clouded over completely, plus a very bright one streaking overhead from the direction of the radiant, mostly seen through the cloud. I think I saw a few others out of the corner of my eye.

By 0020 it was hopeless, so I gave up for the night. But I saw enough that I suspect it may have been a good showing.

Anyone else?
 
I cause one really bright long streak a couple nights ago at about 10:30 while relaxing in the hot tub.
 
I might try tonight, but I think last night was supposed to be the peak. I was beat and couldn't stay up late enough to watch. But in the past, it's usually been a good show.
 
I got up about 1 AM today and watched all morning... Crystal clear skies here... At least two a minute.....
Absolutely the best meteor shower I have ever seen.....:yes:
 
N801BH said:
I got up about 1 AM today and watched all morning... Crystal clear skies here... At least two a minute.....
Absolutely the best meteor shower I have ever seen.....:yes:
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Great to hear! Yes, I think you might have caught the peak too, was supposed to be around 0400 EDT. Gotta love that dry Rocky Mountain air.

The Perseids are one of the most consistent showers but unfortunately the last few years have been spoiled by moonlight. With no moon, this year should have been great. I'm just bummed the VT weather is so damned lousy. :(
 
Matthew said:
I might try tonight, but I think last night was supposed to be the peak. I was beat and couldn't stay up late enough to watch. But in the past, it's usually been a good show.
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Yes, but the stream of debris is spread out enough that you have a good chance of catching a decent showing a few days either side of the peak. It's worth a try anyway, as long as it's clear. After midnight is always your best shot, not only on the night of the peak.
 
azure said:
Yes, but the stream of debris is spread out enough that you have a good chance of catching a decent showing a few days either side of the peak. It's worth a try anyway, as long as it's clear. After midnight is always your best shot, not only on the night of the peak.
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Yeah, it isn't normally something that only occurs during a couple hours and then it's gone, it is spread out over several days.

I usually get my fill after about 30 minutes - and I don't stay out in the very early AM hours either. I remember one night, years ago, during the November Leonids. I was really impressed at the show and kept telling myself, "Just one more big one and then I'm going in." But they kept coming, over and over, and just as I was about to go inside another would stream from horizon to horizon. That was by far the best.
 
Sadly, getting too old to stay out all night.
 
I saw more at 10 PM than at 2 AM. But I did see the biggest one I think I have ever seen.
 
About one a minute at 4 AM from Sandy Island in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Very dark skies helped a lot. One fireball above first magnitude. Aviation content -- flew up here Saturday morning.
 
Matthew said:
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower

About 11pm local is when I normally try to see. Look to the east, and try to stay in the shadows of any streetlights and porch lights. Give your eyes time to adjust, then sit back and wait. You'll probably see some in your peripheral vision until your eyes get adjusted and you figure out what to look for.
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Good information in that site, I hope it helps turn people on to this great shower.

Just FYI though, all but one of the meteors I saw last night were moving *down* toward the NE horizon from the radiant point, which was already visible above the horizon by midnight local time. For best results I always try to stay out until well after 1 or 2am so that I can see the sky in all directions from the radiant point.
 
Paul Hamilton said:
About one a minute at 4 AM from Sandy Island in Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Very dark skies helped a lot. One fireball above first magnitude. Aviation content -- flew up here Saturday morning.
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Isn't the ice runway a little soft this time of year? :D
 
Going on a boat cruise tonight leaving about 9 and back by midnight. Should be a good view from out in the Atlantic. Tomorrow will be tough though. Won't be home til after 1. I'm with Peg, old and usually to bed much earlier.
 
Tried last night. Too much overcast being illuminated by Denver Metro over the horizon.
 
Just went for a walk outside...... Maybe one every two minutes, not anywhere near the bright and long track runs as last night, but still impressive..:)


I am headed back out to lay in a lawnchair with an adult beverage for more of the show.... I will report back later.
 
I went up to the top of my garage and layed down for about a half an hour. However where I live there is too much light and it was a little overcast. Oh well


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N801BH said:
Just went for a walk outside...... Maybe one every two minutes, not anywhere near the bright and long track runs as last night, but still impressive..:)


I am headed back out to lay in a lawnchair with an adult beverage for more of the show.... I will report back later.
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I gave up after about a half hour of trying, about the same time as you were out based on your post. It was fairly clear tonight, just a bit of cloud drifting by on the northern horizon. But I only saw one that was for sure a Perseid, one that might have been, and one that was definitely not.

That was it for 30 minutes of viewing. Average of 1 every 10 minutes. Disappointing.
 
Back inside....

It came in spurts... maybe 3-4 in a two minute burst and then 10 minutes till the next burst... Still crystal clear and the milky way is perfectly visible..

Warmer tonight too . about 55 now... Last night it was in the high 30's at 2 AM......

When I first went out tonight the ISS passed directly overhead.. Was BRIGHT as heck for about 3 minutes and then faded out as it got into the shadow of the earth.... Came from the NW and headed SE.... Pretty damn kool..... We live in a great time to be alive .. IMHO...
 
N801BH said:
When I first went out tonight the ISS passed directly overhead.. Was BRIGHT as heck for about 3 minutes and then faded out as it got into the shadow of the earth.... Came from the NW and headed SE.... Pretty damn kool..... We live in a great time to be alive .. IMHO...
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:yeahthat:
 
azure said:
Yes, but the stream of debris is spread out enough that you have a good chance of catching a decent showing a few days either side of the peak. It's worth a try anyway, as long as it's clear. After midnight is always your best shot, not only on the night of the peak.
Click to expand...

Over the years I have gotten up to watch a meteor shower only to be disappointed. I'll bet I've tried a dozen times. I'm not getting suckered into it again.
 
I got to watch the Perseids waaaaay in the backcountry once and it was amazing. We're talking 200 miles from civilization and in a forest clearing so the horizon was clear. And no overcast.

Still too much overcast last night at home. Oh well.
 
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