Meteor Shower Tonight

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 5:23 pm

Perseid Meteor Shower Peaks tonight.

We went out last night because of uncertain weather tonight and saw quite a few. Tonight you could see as many as one per min. Last night was close to that time frame. The shower should be visible Friday night too. Last night we went out north of Hooper, NE

Photography last night was a bust. My real tripod has been in the shop since |expletive| January!!! I brought my back-up tripod which continued its quest to crumple in to a million pieces. I ended up setting the camera on the ground and got a few shots of the milky-way but no meteors.

On a side note, right at sunset they say you can see Mars, Venus, and Saturn. They form a triangle in the western sky. By dark they are gone. However shortly after dark, Jupiter will rise in the eastern sky.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:33 pm

If the weather holds, are you going out for more pictures tonight?

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:52 pm

TechnicalDisaster wrote:If the weather holds, are you going out for more pictures tonight?

Not sure I will have time. I will let you know if something changes.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 1:23 am

If it's clear tomorrow night, we'll be at Hitchcock Nature Center north of CB (they do charge a $2 fee)... we'll have telescopes setup as well.

FYI... the best time to look for meteors is early morning... when the sky above is actually the direction the Earth is moving in (ie the cometary debris)... sort of like looking at the car windshield as the bugs are hitting it... as opposed to watching during evening time when you're looking out other 'windows'.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:07 am

What time Jeff?

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:33 am

As early as you can get up in the pre dawn hours.

omaproud · Post by **omaproud** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:38 pm

Is there a certain direction to look for the meteors or are they everywhere in the sky?

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Aug 13, 2010 6:45 pm

You'll see them anywhere in the sky (which can be frustrating for a photographer).

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:21 pm

They were disappointing here this morning,

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:31 am

From what I've read, look to the northeast toward perseus after sunset. All we had here were clouds last night though. Hopefully it clears up later tonight.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 4:30 pm

There's a lot of confusion where meteors are concerned.

While you can trace them (Perseids) back to the constellation of Perseus (rising in the northeast)... you'll see them in ANY part of the sky (seldom IN or even close to Perseus). Why is this the case? Because Perseus, this time of year... happens to be the direction in space, the Earth is travelling INTO, as it orbits the Sun. This is also why, the best time to look for meteors, is during the early morning. It is at that time, when the sky overhead, represents the 'front windshield' for this giant spaceship we're riding. In the early evening, it's like looking out the side windows, for evidence of the 'bugs' slamming into the windshield.

It can be an exercise in futility trying to capture one on camera. Best strategy, use the widest field lense you've got... and let it SIT (bring multiple cameras!). Invariably, moving it around results in a meteor crossing through the field you were on previously. Use at least 1 minute exposures, especially if your delay between shots is significant (automatic, remote shutter ideal)... 'Murphy' says the meteor will almost always occur between shots.

The term 'meteor shower' is very misleading. Most people I encounter, seem to think they'll be seen 'raining down'. With the rare exception of the 'Great Leonid shower of 1966' (where one could see, perhaps, a dozen meteors per minute)... the average meteor shower amounts to one or two meteors per minute, at PEAK. More typical, is seeing one every couple of minutes (assuming you're comfortably situated in a lawn chair or on a blanket, with maximum field of vision).

Now, the good news is... the Perseids actually last a good week or more, before and after it's peak. So, don't hesitate to go out any clear night this week/weekend, and try your luck.

Oh, and forget even looking if you're in town (under our light pollution 'dome')... get out to the country.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:49 pm

Thanks Jeff!

Post by **Brad** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:24 pm

One of year's best meteor showers to peak tonight, Friday

http://www.omaha.com/article/20121213/N ... 39906/1685

Jay Withrow wrote:The Geminids meteor shower, which will be at its peak Thursday and Friday nights, is one of the best showers of the year, said David Kriegler, a University of Nebraska at Omaha physics professor.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:41 pm

The stars have looked oddly bright over the last couple weeks, will probably be a a great time to catch a glimpse.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:32 am

I got one nice one tonight:

Post by **nebugeater** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:07 am

Nice one Brad. I should have went out and tried too but morning comes way too early.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:47 am

I posted a few more over in the photo forum as well.
http://eomahaforums.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=13876

Post by **Brad** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:50 pm

Nice shot Tuna.

Here is the same shot I posted earlier, however I added 6 min worth of star trails to it. Wish it was longer, but the batteries died...