Eyes on the Sky: Aug 5 thru Aug 11: Perseid Meteor Showers

Eyesonthesky.com, 8/5/13

Published on Aug 4, 2013

www.eyesonthesky.com The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best ones to see all year, because it occurs during warm weather. So later this week, go outside to observe this event as Earth plows into the debris field left over from the comet Swift-Tuttle. Learn where, when and how to best spot the Perseids. See what's up in the night sky every week with "Eyes on the Sky" videos, astronomy made easy.

Earth & Space Weather

2 Aug 2013 Meteor Activity Outlook for August 3-9, 2013

amsmeteor.org, 8/4/13, Robert Lumsford

Radiant positions at 4am LDT

Meteor activity kicks into high gear in August as seen from the northern hemisphere. The main reason for all this activity is the Perseid shower that peaks on August 12. This shower is active most of the month and remains above the level of the sporadic background for a week centered on August 12. The sporadic activity is also near maximum as seen from the northern hemisphere and is now more than double the rates from just three months ago. As seen from south of the equator, meteor rates are still decent but falling rapidly. The sporadic rates continue their downward slide and the Perseid radiant does not rise high into the sky as seen in the southern hemisphere so rates from this shower are greatly reduced when compared to the northern hemisphere.

Meteor strikes, punches hole 2 meters deep - China

The Watchers, 8/1/13, Adonai

A meteor has reportedly crashed at a dump site in a village of northwest China around 02:00 local time on Thursday, August 1, 2013. Meteorite impact left a 3 meter wide and 2 meter deep crater.

Authorities reported no casualties. Search for meteorite fragments is ongoing.

Read More

Earth & Space Weather

An aurora, and the start of meteor season

EarthSky, 7/18/13

An aurora and a meteor from Jeremy Friebel. More of his photos can be seen on Facebook at ExtremeWeatherPhotographer.

What are the prospects for northern summer meteor season this year? The best warm-weather weeks for watching meteors in the Northern Hemisphere always begin around now. The season peaks from late July to about mid-August. But, right now, the moon is waxing toward full. The July 2013 full moon – on July 22 – will be another supermoon, and it’ll drown the beginning of the 2013 summer meteor season in its glare. Meteor aficianados will be waiting for the days after full moon, when the moon will be waning and casting less light in the sky. The best time for watching summer meteors in 2013 will probably begin around the first week of August.

What's in a Name? Asteroid, Meteor, Meteorite, Meteoroid

Accuweather.com- 5/24/13

A fireball over the Netherlands and German skies taken in October 2009

A couple of month's ago we watched Russia's fireball situation in part fascination and part horror. Since then, we have been asked a lot of questions about what that was and why NASA did not warn us? Well, let's get into a couple of terms and see if we can make some sense of this.

Simply put, an asteroid is a large chunk of rock in space. In our solar system, most of asteroids are located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. NASA can and does track asteroids that may interact with the Earth.

A meteoroid is smaller than an asteroid. What entered Russia's atmosphere a few months back was a meteoroid that developed into a fireball that was not tracked by NASA. Meteoroids are scattered throughout the solar system. More on fireballs below.

Meteor caught on camera over volcano

ABC2news, By: ABC, 05/21/2013

INDONESIA - Amazing pictures have come out of Indonesia as a photographer snapped a photo of a meteor over a volcano.

In the distance of the picture, you can see Mount Bromo as the meteor streaks above. Mount Bromo is one of just a handful of active volcanoes in Indonesia.

For more on this story visit www.abc2news.com

Galactic Free Press

MBIQ Detects Possible Meteorite Fall in La Paz, Mexico Meteor?

Lunarmeteoritehunters, By: Lunar Meteorite * Hunter, 05/18/2013

Witnesses report that a ball of white / red that left a trail, crossed the horizon and seconds later heard a loud explosion. Police looking for traces of meteorite.

La Paz, BCS-The fall of a mysterious object that occurred at 4:08 pm today and caused a loud explosion was heard in the capital city, has originated and mobilization of elements of the Municipal Police and Protective Civil Chametla area and El Centenario.

For more on this story visit http://lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com/

Galactic Free Press

Puerto Rico Fireball Meteor

Lunarmeteoritehunters, By Lunar Meteorite * Hunter, 05/14/2013

Initial Meteor Sighting Reports-

14MAY2013 Gabriel Miranda San Juan, Puerto Rico 1:00:00 1.5 - 2 125ºSE from Left to Right Green Very bright I think as bright as the moon No I was with a friend that also saw it.

14MAY2013 Keyla Lajas, Puerto Rico 1 am / EST 5 seconds Stopped in the horizon level. left to right. I was facing South green/blue no tail high brightness.

For more on this story visit www.Lunarmeteoritehunters.blogspot.com

Galactic Free Press

Large fireball seen May 8, 2013 over England and Wales (video)

Earthsky.org - 5/9/13, Deborah Byrd

We had many reports of a large greenish fireball – a bright meteor – seen over England and Wales on the evening of May 8, 2013. The video below shows it.