meteors

Top Ten Tips for Meteor Watchers

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Submitted by Desert Gypsy on

EarthSky.com - 12/13/2013

1. Be sure you know which days the shower will peak. The “peak” is just what it implies. It’s a point in time when Earth encounters the greatest number of particles from a particular meteor stream. You can find this date nowadays easily on the Internet. Try EarthSky’s meteor guide for 2013.

But there’s a catch.

That is, the peak of the shower comes at the same time for all of us on Earth. Meanwhile, our clocks are saying different times. So …

2. Find out the time of the shower’s peak in your time zone. The time of the peak may be given in Universal Time. That’s the time in London. During the winter months, it’s 6 hours ahead of central time in the U.S. To learn how to translate Universal Time to your time zone, try this article.

Loud boom heard, lights seen across Arizona - VIDEO

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Submitted by Eddie1177 on

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV)- Hundreds claim they saw a large light, as well as heard one to two loud booms across Tucson Tuesday night.

Here's an account from our viewer Tony Kubrak: "My wife and I and my son were sitting in the house, and we felt this absolutely tremendous explosion, I mean, it shook the windows, it shook everything in the house. I stepped outside, and had to be no more than 3 minutes later after I hear all of this, and I see this tremendous, white, bright light in the western sky. And it was just...it was absolutely enormous, I couldn't believe it."

Outburst of Andromedid meteors may continue tonight

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Submitted by Silver on

By: Deborah Byrd, 12/09/2013

Drawing of Andromedid meteor storm 1872 via Tufts.

Expert observers are reporting an unexpected outburst of a little-known (but historical) meteor shower. The Andromedid meteor outburst began yesterday (December 8, 2013) and might not have peaked yet. The Geminid meteor shower is going on now, too, peaking on the mornings of December 13 and 14. So tonight might be an awesome night to go outside and watch for meteors!

 

For more on this story visit www.earthky.org

South Taurid meteors fly in dark skies in early November

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Submitted by Desert Gypsy on

EarthSky.org - 11/4/13

South Taurid meteors fly in dark skies in early November. Read more

Feature chart above: If you trace the South Taurid meteors backward, they all appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus the Bull. But you don’t have to identify Taurus to watch the South Taurid shower.

Look for the thin waxing crescent moon and the dazzling planet Venus in your southwestern sky shortly after sunset.

Look for the thin waxing crescent moon and the dazzling planet Venus in your southwestern sky shortly after sunset.

Earth's Water Likely Came from Very Early Asteroid Strikes

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Submitted by Desert Gypsy on

Space.com - 10/2/13

GFP Commentary: Asteroids, meteors, and comets are often used to bring new life forms and codes to planets, as well as materials and water.

World Action Plan Emerging to Combat Asteroid Threat

Earth got most of its water from asteroid impacts nearly 4.6 billion years ago, shortly after the solar system first took shape, a new study suggests.

Researchers studying a meteorite that fell to Earth in 2000 found evidence that the water in its parent asteroid disappeared soon after the space rock formed, when its insides were still warm. Asteroids that slammed into Earth several hundred million years after the solar system's birth were thus probably relatively dry, scientists said.

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