[Astronews] Fwd: North American Skies Email Alert: Perseid Meteors

Fri Aug 9 12:04:51 EDT 2013

Here's some more info. If you haven't already started your Perseid meteor observing yet, you should absolutely do so now. Even evenings are good for observing a few of the meteors. This shower actually extends over a couple weeks, though you won't see many meteors, you do have a chance to see a few. I have already had reports of several fireballs being spotted as early as Aug. 3. So get out and enjoy for the next couple weeks. 
Here's wishing you
Clear Skies and
Keep Looking Up!
Burness Ansell
Publisher, IAAS Monthly Astronomy Newsletter
http://www.ki0ar.com/astro.html

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "starman at usa.net" <starman at usa.net>
> Date: August 9, 2013, 9:53:05 AM MDT
> To: ki0ar at yahoo.com
> Subject: North American Skies Email Alert: Perseid Meteors
> Reply-To: starman at usa.net
> 
>  
>  North American Skies Email Alert: The Perseid Meteor Shower
> 
> Friday, 9 August 2013
> 
> Perseids
> 
> You may recall that one of the best meteor "showers" of this year is coming up. In fact there is a somewhat erroneous and exagerrated report floating around the Internet about being able to see "thousands" of meteors from "one of the rarest" of meteor showers. No one will see thousands of meteors, and this is a regular, yearly event that has been known for about 2,000 years.
> 
> 
> The graphic shown here is what some folks expect when they hear the word, "shower." However, that is misleading. Generally, you are doing well to see one meteor a minute at the peak time... they don't exactly fall like rain. Only on very rare occasions would anyone experience a "shower" like the one depicted here.
> 
> That said, the Perseid Meteor Shower is predicted to peak at about 2 p.m., EDT on Monday, August 12. Obviously this is not the best timing for North America, but there will be no moonlight to interfere before dawn, which is the best time to observe. The exact performance of meteor showers is impossible to predict, but the best chances will be from roughly midnight until dawn on August 12 & 13 (which is to say, late Sunday night until Monday dawn, or late Monday night until Tuesday dawn).
> 
> No telescope or binoculars are needed or even desirable. Meteors travel across a large area of sky, so the widest view possible is what you want. The meteors radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus, hence the name. What you want to do is to position yourself comfortably somewhere sage and away from all lights, facing the Northeast. Avoid looking directly at any lights, adn give yourself at least 15 minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness. A chaise longue, bug spray, flashlight with red cellophane or plastic covering, and maybe even a blanket will make your observing more enjoyable. I strongly advise everyone to observe with a friend, for safety's sake. For more information and suggestions, feel free to email me, and check out:
> 
> Everything you need to know: Perseid meteor shower (from EarthSky)
> 
> Good luck.
> 
> For day-to-day listings, please check out the North American Skies Twitter feed: NASkies   You do not have to have a Twitter account, nor do you have to "follow" the account to view it.
> 
> Observing Opportunities
> 
> Astronomical societies and clubs across North America regularly hold "star parties" during which the public is invited to look at the Moon, planets and stars through telescopes. These are typically free and often offered on a monthly basis. I cannot list them all, but for Denver area observers, the next two opportunities are at Chamberlin Observatory on Saturdays August 17 (8 pm) and September 14 (7 pm).
> 
> For those of you located in other parts of North America, check out the NASA Night Sky Network page for information in your area.
> 
> Want more?
> 
> Here are some links for you. 
> EarthSky.com
> http://www.earthsky.org
> Spaceweather.com
> http://www.spaceweather.com/
> North American Skies Twitter page:
> http://twitter.com/NASkies
> North American Skies Skywatcher
> http://paper.li/NASkies/north-american-skies
> Satellites, ISS passage predictions and more
> ISS & SATELLITE PASSAGES
> 
> And on Facebook, Northern Skies:
> http://www.facebook.com/people/Northern-Skies/100001296632953?ref=search
> and EarthSky:
> http://www.facebook.com/EarthSky
> Good luck and clear skies
> 
> Remember, "It's all over your head!"
> Larry Sessions, Denver
> Feel free to email your questions.
> 
> If you are not already a member of this North American Skies email alert list, you can sign up here:
> North American Skies email alert
> and you should consider joining Jeff Bennett's email list:
> Jeff Bennett's News Articles and Newsletters
> (Jeff is an author and PhD astronomer in Boulder, Colorado)
> In the Southern Hemisphere? check out Ian Maclean's
> Night Sky Secrets page
> For a daily fix of science news and views, visit:
> EarthSky.org
> And for great music to observe or work by, try King FM (Seattle), KDFC (San Francisco) or KVOD (Denver):
> King FM
> KDFC
> KVOD
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
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