Surprise Meteor Shower Possible in June

[seemslikeadream]

Rendtel points out that on Sunday, June 27 at 01h GMT (which corresponds to Saturday, June 26 at 9:00 p.m. EDT) the Earth should be passing through essentially the very same region of the meteoroid stream as in 1998.
That time would be the middle of the peak activity seen in 1998, but since that display lasted for many hours, observers worldwide should stay alert through Saturday night on into Sunday morning for any unusual or enhanced meteor activity.

On the other hand, David Asher’s belief is that little or nothing will be observed, based primarily on the simple argument that unusual numbers of bright meteors should also have been seen in 1992 and 1986, but nothing apparently occurred.

In recent days, a different forecast for the June Bootids has been issued by Jerimie Vaubaillon of the Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides, in Paris, France and Russians Sergey Dubrovsky and Sergey Shanov.

Their calculations suggest that the Earth will interact with a swarm of meteoroids that were ejected by Comet Pons-Winnecke at not just one, but several of its past visits to the Sun, most notably in 1819, 1825, 1830, 1836 and perhaps 1875. In addition, the predicted peak for this activity comes several days earlier than Rendtel’s suggestion: Wednesday, June 23 at 11h GMT (7 a.m. EDT).

Western North America and the Pacific Ocean will still be in darkness at that time, and are favored with the best possible views. But should the activity last for many hours, then it could be worthwhile to carefully watch the sky from Tuesday night, the 22nd, on until the first light of dawn on Wednesday, the 23rd.

Whether you plan to look for the June Bootids on the night of June 22-23 or again on the night of June 26-27, keep in mind that the constellation of Bootes will be excellently positioned as darkness falls. It will appear nearly overhead and high up in the northern sky and will remain in view through the night as it descends toward the northwest.
http://space.com/spacewatch/bootid_meteors_040618.html

> The part of Earth where dawn is breaking is always at the leading edge of our planet's plunge along its orbital path around the Sun. This part of the planet tends to "catch" oncoming meteors left by a comet, whereas the other side of Earth, where it is dusk or late evening, outruns the debris. For that reason, the hours between midnight and dawn are typically the best time to watch a meteor shower.

> Allow time for your eyes to adjust to darkness. A good hour is smart, so that you can also practice some prior to prime observing time.

> Dress warmer than you think you need to, especially in winter.

> Bring a lounge chair or blanket, so you can relax and look up with ease.

> During meteor showers, shooting stars appear to emanate from a point in the sky called the radiant. There are different ideas about how to use this fact to aid in spotting meteors. Robert Lunsford has these thoughts:

One idea is that it is preferable to look away from the radiant so that the shower meteors you see will be longer and therefore easy to detect motion. As Mark Davis stated one should look 20-40 degrees distant. At this distance the radiant is still in your field of view so that shower association is still fairly easy.

Those who look directly at the radiant can see shower activity travel in any direction. Shower association will be fairly obvious. Meteors that appear near the radiant will be foreshortened and therefore the motion will be more difficult to detect.

I would suggest that new observers face slightly away from the radiant. Those who enjoy good perception over a large field of view may be able to directly face the radiant with no problems. Those who prefer to face the radiant must not do so unless the radiant is at least 50 degrees high in the sky. If you don't then you are wasting the bottom portion of your field of view on the ground!
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/meteor_forecast.html

[oregonjen]

1. Thanks for the info!

:hi:

[seemslikeadream]

2. Hi oregonjen here's a little more

This illustration, among the most famous depictions of the 1833 Leonid meteor shower, was produced some 50 years after the event. The depiction is through the eyes of a government civil servant on his way from Florida to New Orleans.

&cap=This%20illustration,%20among%20the%20most%20famous%20depictions%20of%20the%201833%20Leonid%20meteor%20shower,%20was%20produced%20some%2050%20years%20after%20the%20event.%20The%20depiction%20is%20through%20the%20eyes%20of%20a%20government%20civil%20servant%20on%20his%20way%20from%20Florida%20to%20New%20Orleans.

http://www.space.com/images/tempeltuttle_orbit_0111_02,0.jpg
Screaming Meteors: Why the Leonids move so fast.


there are some great photos here
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/leonids_wow_011119.html



The radiant of the Leonids at 2:28 a.m. ET on Nov. 19 from high northern latitudes such as Toronto, Canada. Skywatchers need not focus on the radiant to spot shooting stars.



Norwegian astrophotographer Arne Danielsen captured this spectacular Leonid fireball on November 18, 1999.

[mia]

4. Thanks for the alert

Years ago, I witnessed a small meteor shower in the middle of the ocean during a sailing trip. It was my turn to "watch"- everyone else was asleep. It was a clear black night with nothing but me and the wind and the stars. I'll never forget it.

[seemslikeadream]

5. I watched one at Presque Isle Wisconsin

about 10 years ago, out on a lake. Had no idea what was going on! It lasted for hours, every couple of minutes another shooting star. Stayed up till 3 in the morning. I'll never forget it.

I really like your photo mia.

:hi:

[Lars39]

3. I just saw one 5 minutes ago!!!!

Freaky. I've never seen one before. Was driving home and there it was.
I wonder if those folks will find something in their yard?

[seemslikeadream]

6. star kick

[seemslikeadream]

7. another starry starry night kick

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
Look out on a summer's day,
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,
Sketch the trees and the daffodils,
Catch the breeze and the winter chills,
In colors on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

Starry, starry night.
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze,
Swirling clouds in violet haze,
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of China blue.
Colors changing hue, morning field of amber grain,
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

For they could not love you,
But still your love was true.
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night,
You took your life, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night.
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless head on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,
The ragged men in the ragged clothes,
The silver thorn of bloody rose,
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they're not listening still.
Perhaps they never will.

mclean

[Blecht]

8. What surprise?

Expect a surprise at 01h GMT. And the surprise is a meteor shower.

Exactly where is the surprise in all of this? ;)

[emad]

9. Good instructions but would add: bring spliff and telescope

(just in case), hotwater bottle and galoshes (if you're currently in London) and check your house insurance. Some guy last week in New Zealand got a nasty surprise when a meteor crashed through his roof, bounced off the floor and smashed into his computer....

[emad]

10. Mission's path to new astronomy: more skystuff

By Jonathan Amos
BBC News Online science staff

The contract has been signed that will lead to the building of one of the most ambitious space missions ever flown.

The Lisa Pathfinder will demonstrate technologies that will be necessary to detect gravitational waves in space.

Being able to see these "ripples in the fabric of space-time" should allow scientists to probe the Universe to within one second of the Big Bang.

The European Space Agency has awarded the contract to build Lisa Pathfinder to EADS-Astrium in Stevenage, UK.


Lisa Pathfinder should launch in 2008


More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3836435.stm

[lumpy]

11. Meteor shower in Seattle ,August

1947. It was one of the most impressive showers I've ever witnessed. Literally hundreds were crossing the sky. If you can imagine,in 1947 the skys were more accessable; less city lights. Looking forward to sightings this year, if that pesky overcast clears up, that is.

[Judi Lynn]

12. I'm curious, lumpy. Can you see the Northern Lights from there?

The closest I've gotten is dumpster diving in google images of aurora photos.

Good luck with this year's round of meteor showers. The one you mentioned sounded like something you'd never forget.

[lumpy]

15. Sorry I'm late in replying, Judi

I've never seen the Northern Lights from the Seattle area. Some people in Eastern Wash. claim they have seen them. As a youngster living in the interior of Alaska I witnessed, on many a cold winter's night, the dazzling display of the Aurora Borealis; curtains of color undulating across the clear skies. Breathtaking !

[Judi Lynn]

13. Thanks for the alert, seemslikeadream. n/t

[seemslikeadream]

14. no problem JudiLyn

Nice to talk to you again. I hope we'll have a good show!

:hi:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. Are we gonna see anything here on the east coast?

I saw the 2001 Leonids and thought they were spectacular!

[FlaGranny]

17. I saw a meteorite night before last.

I walked out my front door to take the doggy out and a bright green meteorite fell straight down from the sky - at least that's the way it looked. The dog actually saw it first. It's the second I've seen this month, and the third in the last two months.

The most spectacular meteor shower I ever saw was in about January 1956. We were driving late at night down a dark highway and any direction you looked you could see many at the same time. It was something I'm not likely ever to forget.