Meteor shower this weekend

[Mee-n-Mac]

Just a reminder for anyone sitting out on the end of the dock and looking upward .... the annual Perseid meteor shower peaks this Friday/Saturday. Best time is predawn Fri AM but you should still be able to catch some Fri night/early Sat AM.

http://space.com/spacewatch/050805_perseid_guide.html

[Resident 2B]

Thanks!

This is usually a great show and well worth staying up to see. However, to me it marks the beginning of the end, the end of summer that is. As I reflect back on past summers during the long, cold (and hopefully snowy) winter, one of the closing events of the summer season is the Perseid meteor shower.

Last year, I fell asleep while out watching it and got numerous mosquito bites as a result. Still a great way to spend the late evening in mid August. I will bring and apply the insect replentent this year. :idea:

[Pepper]

In addition to the Persieds this month, we will be treated to a spectacular display from the planet, Mars. I've received info about this from a number of sources, but the most concise is from an email I received from my brother. A portion of the text from that email is in a quote box below. I've presented it this way because I do not know the original source of the information, and therefore cannot give proper credit to the original author. I'm providing only the portion of the text which provides the "when" and "where" info. I hope by doing this I am avoiding breaking any forum or other rules. Here it is:

Mars will be easy to spot. At the
beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m.
and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.


This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is
in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be
certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth
in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as
60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when
Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and
will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in
the night sky.

By the end of August when the two planets are
closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its
highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty
convenient to see something that no human being has
seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at
the beginning of August to see Mars grow
progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

I know we'll be doing a lot of sky watching over the next few weeks! Can you say "Deet"? :eek:

[Rose]

In addition to the Persieds this month, we will be treated to a spectacular display from the planet, Mars.

I hate to be a party pooper, but this actually occurred in 2003. My husband heard the same thing a while ago and asked me to check it out with one of the astronomical weenies at work. For some unknown reason, it's resurfaced on the net with the year missing, so it appears to be current info.

Here's a link to an old story about the event from Space.com

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/mars_preview_021108.html

[Pepper]

Rose, thanks for setting me straight. I've fowarded the link to the article to my brother, who will surely be as disappointed as I. :( At least now I know who to confer with next time I hear something like this! ;)

[Mee-n-Mac]

FWIW - According to the below, the peak of the Perseids should be Fri AM, around 4:18 EDT (are we on or off daylight savings ?) where the rate could be 4x the average (4 x 80 = 240 or 1 per 15 seconds). I guess the early bird gets the worm and a show :D

http://space.com/searchforlife/050811_seti_perseids.html

As for the Mars opposition ... the Earth and Mars cozy up every ~26 months so we should see a "close" Mars this Oct. Perhaps this is what you've seen mentioned ? While 2 years ago was billed as the closest approach of a lifetime, be aware the difference was mebbe 1-2 %, no big deal really. Here's a link to an old article about it ...

http://www.space.com/spacewatch/mars_preview_021108.html

[SIKSUKR]

I thought we had Persiod meteor showers every year.I still remember as a kid in the50's/60"s camping out in August on our small lake in southern NH,and watching in awe the meteor showers.Also had a few Northern light shows as well.

[trfour]

"You's Two Are Roses!!
Love,
T. :)

[Pepper]

I thought we had Persiod meteor showers every year.I still remember as a kid in the50's/60"s camping out in August on our small lake in southern NH,and watching in awe the meteor showers.Also had a few Northern light shows as well.

We do have the Persieds every year. It's the Mars thing that won't be happening this year. Don't worry, honey. You're not losing your mind. :D

"You's Two Are Roses!!
Love,
T.

Thanks, T! You're so sweet! :love:

[Lakegeezer]

The sky was totally cloudy early Friday morning (3AM), so no shower was visible from the northern part of the lake. On Thursday morning about the same time, it was hazy, but I saw three meteors within 5 minutes, and one had a long lasting tail.

[trfour]

Only cause you's tell me so......
Love, T. :)