[meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids, good Geminids!

[MexicoDoug]

the moon will "NOT be bad enough to throw a wet blanket" for the Geminids
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "MexicoDoug" <MexicoDoug at aim.com>
To: "Bob King" <nightsky55 at gmail.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 19, 2006 7:55 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Lousy Leonids, good Geminids!


> 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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