November 17, 2006

Late Night Leonids May Disappoint This years Leonid meteor shower may not be all that great, science tells us. And it peaks at 5am.

Of course, monkeys have covered them before. I personally will be staying in bed with bandages over my eyes. I'm not risking it.

posted by muteboy 18 years ago
  • This years Leonid shower may not be all that great, science tells us. And it peaks at 5 am. Enough of your hard-sell salesman's schtick, you silver-tongued con-artist, you.
  • hehe
  • Having seen my share of meteor showers over the years I've learned that the right attitude is to expect a poor show. You'll never be disappointed. In retrospect 9 in 10 meteor showers I've seen were complete crap.
  • I am completely ignorant when it comes to these things. I saw a spectacular show of the Leonids in 2002 (also at 5 AM) but only after looking in the wrong direction for over 30 minutes. So I'm going to ask a stupid question: Does a show time of 4:45 GMT mean it occurs at the same time in the US- at 11:45 EST? Or, does my part of the world have to rotate around to where the meteors are, so I'll also get the show at 4:45 my time?
  • don't look! the sprinkles from Old Leo's shower this year were dingey grey and so in spite impoverished Night did what's in her power and took the shooting stars away
  • geez bees, how could any post after yours be worthy? wow.
  • Does a show time of 4:45 GMT mean it occurs at the same time in the US- at 11:45 EST? That's simply the time when the Earth passes through the peak density of ice/rock/whatever that causes the shower. The Earth is only facing "ahead" into its orbit during the A.M. hours where it can receive the meteorites, otherwise the show is mostly below the horizon except for the occasional errant meteorite on the Earth's back side.
  • I just saw a shooting star! Zipping low across the sky, just over the rooftops of the village. It was beautiful.
  • RolyPoly: Yes, 1 in 10 might be about right, but if you can get into a completely lightless area--say up in the hills and down into a bowl where the sky is framed to the right direction, then OH MAN! That one night will be something to dream about.
  • I saw a motherfucking green fireball about 10 years ago, shooting across the firmament. It was huuuuge. It actually made a 'WHOOSH' sound. Awesome, it were. Nothing to do with the Leonids, tho'. Pure luck I was in the right place & time. Backyard, trying to coax cat off roof.
  • The view in my part of the globe was supposed to be quite good, but arrrr Jim-boy, the fog she's crept in.
  • The Geminids are set to be more impressive.
  • They just keep coming back. Reinforcements. That's what they are.