Shooting stars tonight

chris.p · 11. Aug 2009, 08:22 PM

Check out the Perseid meteor shower for the next 3 nights, peaking on Wednesday night.

This is the biggest display of the year and comes round every August. It's the dust trail from the Swift-Tuttle comet.

The shooting stars can be seen in any part of the sky, but the central point is to the north-east in the region of the Perseus and Cassiopiea constallations.

Cass. is easy to find, it looks like a big W (or M) in the sky, with one side flattened, to the north-east.

miskairal · 13. Aug 2009, 05:17 AM

I took a look last night but didn't see anything. Mind you I had no idea which direction to look and wasn't going outside as it's still winter here. Thanks for saying which way to look

Sope · 13. Aug 2009, 07:58 PM

Was overcast here last night

Looks to be clear for tonight, if I'm lucky, I'm hoping I may possibly get to see something.

chris.p · 13. Aug 2009, 08:11 PM

Yep, same here, 100% cloud. But tonight looks better.

ps Make sure you've read The Day of the Triffids first, it adds a certain spice to meteorite-watching.

Sope · 13. Aug 2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.p

ps Make sure you've read The Day of the Triffids first, it adds a certain spice to meteorite-watching.

Haven't read the book but I loved the TV serial from the 80's starring John Duttine (it was actually repeated a year or so ago on ?BBC4).

chris.p · 14. Aug 2009, 04:39 PM

Well, the Perseids weren't too good this year from my location, maybe you did better. Or perhaps the astrologers were wrong or something.

Sope · 14. Aug 2009, 05:46 PM

My father, who stood next to me for a short time, saw (the only) one but I missed it as I was looking in the other direction at the time!

11. Aug 2009, 08:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	Shooting stars tonight Check out the Perseid meteor shower for the next 3 nights, peaking on Wednesday night. This is the biggest display of the year and comes round every August. It's the dust trail from the Swift-Tuttle comet. The shooting stars can be seen in any part of the sky, but the central point is to the north-east in the region of the Perseus and Cassiopiea constallations. Cass. is easy to find, it looks like a big W (or M) in the sky, with one side flattened, to the north-east. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

13. Aug 2009, 08:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	Yep, same here, 100% cloud. But tonight looks better. ps Make sure you've read The Day of the Triffids first, it adds a certain spice to meteorite-watching. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

14. Aug 2009, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
chris.p Foundation Editor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 1,600	Well, the Perseids weren't too good this year from my location, maybe you did better. Or perhaps the astrologers were wrong or something. __________________ . . . . . . . Web Business Management

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13. Aug 2009, 05:17 AM	#2 (permalink)
miskairal Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Qld, Australia Posts: 124	I took a look last night but didn't see anything. Mind you I had no idea which direction to look and wasn't going outside as it's still winter here. Thanks for saying which way to look

13. Aug 2009, 07:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 791	Was overcast here last night Looks to be clear for tonight, if I'm lucky, I'm hoping I may possibly get to see something.

14. Aug 2009, 05:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sope Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wales, UK Posts: 791	My father, who stood next to me for a short time, saw (the only) one but I missed it as I was looking in the other direction at the time!