[meteorite-list] persieds meteors

[Norm Lehrman]

All,

It is important to understand that the "Persieds" are
quite different from the "Perseids".  There are two
accepted meanings.  Some hold that the "persi-" is
derived from "persifler" (to banter, i.e, good-
natured and usually witty animated discourse) + "eds",
obviously a contracted form of "educational system".  
Others argue that, in this context, it must come from
the Latin "per" (thoroughly)+sistere (to take a stand)
+ "D's"(with reference to the common ABCD grading
system).  Hence, Persieds becomes "thoroughly founded
on solid "D"s.

Just in case any were confused,

Norm

--- MexicoDoug at aol.com wrote:

> Steve A. (Elgin, IL) wrote:
> 
> >Hello list and good evening.Do not forget,next
> friday the 12th,is  the
> >annual persied meteor swarm.It will be able to be
> seen in  the
> >constellation of pegasus.Best viewing will be on
> the 12th,but viewing  will
> >also be possible a day before the 12th,and a couple
> of days after.I  like
> >to get the old binoculars and look at those old
> shooting stars.It  usually
> >is quite the view.
>  
> Thanks Ron and Steve for the heads up.  I am not
> sure what Steve  (Elgin, IL) 
> means about the shower of "Tears of Saint Lawrence"
> being  seen in Pegasus, 
> though this is true and may be a nice view, these
> are the  Perseids, of course, 
> and no constellation negotiated an  exclusive... 
>  
> Pegasus was born from Neptune's foamy seed and the
> blood of Medusa, who  used 
> to be an object of Poseidon's  (Neptune) desire
> until they made love  in 
> Athena's temple, defiling it and involking Athena's
> wrath.  When Perseus  had 
> decapitated her as a sort of labor (Perseus was a
> grandfather of Hercules),  and 
> was then able to mount the flying horse to free
> sacrificial Andromeda, the  
> daughter of the Vain!y Boastfu! African Queen
> Cassiopeia, Perseus and Pegasus  
> are different constellations and there is little
> need to be constellation saavy  
> if you casually want to join the fun.  The Great
> Square of Pegasus will  
> probably be the most recognizable asterism two or
> three dozen degrees  (1/6 of the 
> visible sky) above the radiant of the shower in
> Perseus  (between the very 
> bright star Capella and Mars), and if  you pick the
> right  diagonal it will 
> point there, but then again, so will the meteors! 
> Taurus,  Pisces, Cygnus (the 
> bright cross also points to Perseus), and Draco,
> Aries,  Andromeda, and 
> Cassiopeia (the obvious "W") as well as the rest of
> the sky ought  to be good as well.
>  
> Queen Cassiopeia's "W", near  the radiant, Capella
> and Mars form a  triangle 
> around Perseus.  I wouldn't recommend binoculars
> unless they were  of the 
> Cetus-eye variety (whale-eye lenses)...or after
> you've had your own  eyeful of the 
> natural feel.  The Perseids are the kind of meteors
> that are  impressive by 
> the unaided, alert, scanning and darting eye, if you
> can just find  a nice, 
> reasonably dark spot! These are bright, fast
> meteors, and only someone  with 
> Cowboy Charlie Brown would have the reflexes to grab
> the binocs and catch a  
> meteor he first located with his eye.
>  
> Some nice nights ahead, now's the time to get a date
> with a companion  or 
> two, to share in the fun...
> Saludos, Doug
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>