[meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids 2006 ==> next dependable meteorshower timing

[Chris Peterson]

Don't overlook the Geminids, December 14. Not a lot of interference from 
the Moon this year. IMO the Geminids are the number one shower to be 
seen- it produces the highest rate of any shower (much better than the 
Perseids), and by far the most fireballs (which tend to be fairly long 
and colorful, because of the low speed particles, just 35 km/s).

The Quadrantids can be quite good, but they aren't as dependable as the 
Geminids for fireball production.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MexicoDoug" <MexicoDoug at aim.com>
To: "Gerald Flaherty" <grf2 at verizon.net>; "Robert Woolard" 
<meteoritefinder at yahoo.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 11:58 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids 2006 ==> next dependable 
meteorshower timing


> Dear List,
>
> Had clear, fairly dark skies all night, observed 23:00 - 01:00 EST 
> Saturday
> night/Sunday Morning covered the peak of the Leonids, which have 
> always been
> a tough call no one can figure out...
>
> After seeing one reasonable fireball at 23:30, I spent the rest of the 
> time
> bs-ing with other astronomers hoping a chance glance might catch my 
> eye.
> Those experts that spent the time wired on having a successful evening
> boasted a total of 3-4 each in the 1.5 hour period, all reasonably 
> bright,
> but really nothing to write home about.
>
> My favorite shower, the sometimes electrifying Quadrantids on January 
> 3/4
> 2007 will be a lunar disaster to write off, and it looks like casual 
> meteor
> observers looking for a bang for the buck will have to wait until 
> perfect
> astronomical conditions line up by observing during the New Moon at 
> the the
> 4:00 AM CDT (09:00 UTC) 13 August 2007 shower peak of the historically
> dependable PERSEIDS, though the parent body is receding more and 
> supposedly
> finally taking more of its dustpile with it.
>
> So mark your calenders for the Perseids, before work on Monday 13 Aug 
> 2007
> if you only want to pick one shower next year where you probably won't 
> be
> disappointed.  The Perseus radiant is high in the sky, and it will 
> also be a
> perfect opportunity to see with naked eyes or binoculars the Great 
> Galaxy in
> Andromeda, named for the constellacion of the hot African princess 
> Perseus
> himself unshackled from the jaws of a seamonster and then savoured for 
> his
> toils producing among others, a son who was the father of the 
> Persians.  The
> Andromeda Galaxy is essentially the furthest we can see with the naked 
> eye,
> and only object we can se outside our own Mikly Way Galaxy in the 
> Northern
> Hemisphere since the slightly further Triangulum galaxy requires 
> shameless
> prodigal vision.
>
> Best wishes,
> Doug