The Perseids 2010 - 08/04/10 04:35 PM
Please note that this thread is about the Perseid meteor shower whose maximum was just before the middle of August 2010. You might still be interested in these postings, but the event has passed. Until next year, of course!
My article on the Perseids will fill you in on the basics.
Meteor Shower - The Perseids
But this post and further updates will let you see what's happening this week.
Good news! The Moon sets early so it won't wash out the dimmer meteors.
When is the best time to watch?
The International Meteor Organization expects the shower to peak late on Thursday August 12 through the early hours of Friday morning. But they advise that the previous and following nights should also provide a fair number of meteors. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama has been reporting fireballs (very bright meteors) for several days now.
You aren't likely to see much before about 11 at night your local time. The best viewing is usually midnight until it starts getting light.
Meteorwatch.org will be following the shower on Twitter from the 11th - 14th August. Find out more at The Great Twitter Meteorwatch
When I looked about half an hour ago, the Meteorwatch site had crashed. Check my latest posting for a live audio/video feed from the Marshall Space Flight Center.
My article on the Perseids will fill you in on the basics.
Meteor Shower - The Perseids
But this post and further updates will let you see what's happening this week.
Good news! The Moon sets early so it won't wash out the dimmer meteors.
When is the best time to watch?
The International Meteor Organization expects the shower to peak late on Thursday August 12 through the early hours of Friday morning. But they advise that the previous and following nights should also provide a fair number of meteors. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama has been reporting fireballs (very bright meteors) for several days now.
You aren't likely to see much before about 11 at night your local time. The best viewing is usually midnight until it starts getting light.
Meteorwatch.org will be following the shower on Twitter from the 11th - 14th August. Find out more at The Great Twitter Meteorwatch
When I looked about half an hour ago, the Meteorwatch site had crashed. Check my latest posting for a live audio/video feed from the Marshall Space Flight Center.