Monday, November 16, 2015

Leonids Meteor Shower

I love watching the night sky!
The winter sky is pretty impressive on its own. Some of the brightest stars and deep space nebulae and clusters are visible in the winter sky. It's too bad that it is often too cold to stay out and star gaze for an extended period of time.

In addition, the fall and winter months offer a couple of other highlight events. Tonight (actually early tomorrow morning) the Leonid meteor shower takes place. This will be the best night for viewing, although you may still catch a glimpse of a few shooting stars through the end of the month. This year isn't expected to be a grand event as in some years, but if you have clear skies you should be able to see a dozen or more per hour.

It is forecast to be overcast in the Ozarks, but I'll still probably get up and check the sky in the early morning hours. For those of you that don't have clear skies or just aren't going to get up in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower, the Geminids shower is only a month away and is best viewed just after sunset (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere).

John <><

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, 
the moon and the stars , which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalms 8:3-4 
ESV

5 comments:

  1. I've given up on looking for meteor showers. Too much light pollution here.

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  2. Yes, you'd need to get away from the city.

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  3. Unfortunately, I have light pollution from a city. I look for the Geminids.

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  4. Angel (or anyone else), plan a late dinner date or dessert on Sunday night the 13th of December. Find a place east of the city or bright lights since your best viewing will be looking to the east after sunset.

    You'll want to look towards the constellation of Gemini (hence the name Geminids) which will rise at sunset. I'd guess that best viewing will be a few hours after sunset. I plan on around 9-11pm for my personal viewing.

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  5. 11pm, steady rain, looks like it will be that way all night.
    No meteor watching tonight.
    Sacrebleu!

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