[meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids, good Geminids!

[MexicoDoug]

Hi Chris, Bob and Listees; Geminid fans,

Yup, thanks for mentioning the Geminids -  you're both right that there is 
one nice possible shower on December 14 with the Geminids before next 
August's 2007 Perseids when the Perseid peak falls during a New Moon and 
just before dawn at optimal observing times.

Sorry for overlooking the potential Geminid jubilee, I was thinking it was 
washed out by a full moon (that was last year's, not the upcoming one)...but 
that can't happen if the shortly later Quadrantids are the ones washed out 
by the Full moon.... "duhhh....., in someone's famous word"....

If anyone wants to watch the Geminids as kindly suggested by Chris and Bob, 
the peak will be 4:45 CST (10:45 UTC) on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 14, 
while the fortunate among us will be getting ready for the annual Christmas 
party and preparing to hunt meteorites with Santa...

The Moon will be reasonably bright during the Geminids (33% disk 
illumination) and high but bad enough to throw too wet a blanket on the 
party, as both of you kindly mentioned!

Chris, I know the Quadrantids aren't the most dependable nor easiest to 
catch even under good conditions (not like the old gray mare / old reliable 
Perseids) but they gave me the best show of my life - that's why they're my 
favorite.  I had counts of 300 per hour under midnight dark and perfectly 
clear skies for a few hours - actually well over 1000 per hour during 
several spurts when I was stranded in the desert.  That was the only time I 
truly felt to be in meteor "shower";  What an indescribably beautiful 
fantasyland that was with the radiant at the zenith, perfectly timed to the 
hour, with the cactus spines pinching me awake all night and meteors falling 
vertically down to all horizons, most frequently in pairs and trios... and 
the galaxy glow casting silvery light upon the frightening geological 
paradise enough to see cold rattle-snake eyes staring back under every 
amorphous dark blob close to the ground around:-)

Best wishes, Doug
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Bob King
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids, good Geminids!


Mexico Doug and friends,
The Leonids may not have been great and the Quadrantids drowned by the moon 
but don't forget the Geminids next month. They usually make for an excellent 
shower and peak the night of Dec. 13/14 when the moon won't seriously 
interfere. Wishing you clear skies!
Bob



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