Meteor shower tonght?

[El Sueno]

I heard there's supposed to be a great meteor shower tonight, but I can't find any info on the web about it eg. where to look, what time and what the weather might be like.

I heard someone on the radio a couple of days ago, saying it was going to be a little like the northern lights, with meteors expected at a rate of about one every ten seconds! Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Crispy]

It's the leonids, and this year's show is supposed to be a stunner. Look at this bit of the sky:

Won't look anything like the aurora, more like the 'starfield' screensaver, or lightspeed in starwars, but with fewer stars. Get out of the city though, you need a decent dark sky.

 

[El Sueno]

Brilliant, cheers mate. I'm planning a trip out of the London lights to check this out, do you know roughly what time it's all kicking off?

 

[Crispy]

Brilliant, cheers mate. I'm planning a trip out of the London lights to check this out, do you know roughly what time it's all kicking off?

It's already started, but leo rises around 11pm at our latitude. The peak rate will be the wee small hours, about 4-5am. Get yourself a comfy chair, a blanket and a flask of hot tea It's a new moon at the mo, which really helps. I'm stuck in the city so can't see them

 

[Pieface]

I want to see it

Will you take pics Sueno??

 

[Crispy]

SHIT!

sorry, wrong meteors

You actually want to look out for the Orionids, which come from the direction of Orion (natch) - same hours of the morning. The leonids will happen on nov 19th.

 

[El Sueno]

I might dust off the old SLR camera (not a digi one I'm afraid) and see what I can do with that... I just hope it's not too wet.

Sounds amazing, I cannae wait!

 

[El Sueno]

SHIT!

sorry, wrong meteors

You actually want to look out for the Orionids, which come from the direction of Orion (natch) - same hours of the morning. The leonids will happen on nov 19th.

Cool, Orion is one of the few constillations I can always spot.

 

[Crispy]

Cool, Orion is one of the few constillations I can always spot.

It rises earlier as well, IIRC, so you get a longer show. The orionids don't come as thick and fast as the leonids though.

 

[Pieface]

cor

 

[El Sueno]

Just found this on the beeb site too. Reckons 1.30am is about the best time.

 

[MarkMark]

It worth a look for them. Orion should be well clear of the horizon towards the east at that time. If you're living in London then you're in for dissapointment as you usually need a super-dark sky. The good news is that its new moon time though, which mean there won't be any light inteferance with that. Good luck with the photos, Sueno, use a tripod/good ledge or wall, a fast film and expose for about 30secs. Afterwards, put the film into the chemists along with a note to explain that they're starfield pictures, else they'll probably over expose them looking for something like a normal night photo (thinking you fucked up your flash).

 

[girasol]

It rises earlier as well, IIRC, so you get a longer show. The orionids don't come as thick and fast as the leonids though.

That's because Leos rule!

 

[poster342002]

Bet the sky's nicely clouded over down here in London - just like it is every single time there's supposed to be one of these.

 

[Crispy]

Bet the sky's nicely clouded over down here in London - just like it is every single time there's supposed to be one of these.

Pointless anyway - far too light in london, you have to get out into the country.

 

[Biddlybee]

How far out of London do you think you need to get? Quite interested in seeing the Leonids one (never seen a meteor shower before), though I know clear skies can't be guaranteed.

 

[MarkMark]

That's because Leos rule!

Aquarius PWN Leos anyday!!

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Brilliant, cheers mate. I'm planning a trip out of the London lights to check this out, do you know roughly what time it's all kicking off?

Arn't you in Croydon?

I can see all the stars from my back garden, it's almost always a clear sky. Not like when I was in the big smoke.

 

[snorbury]

tonight gonna be cool

 

[MarkMark]

How far out of London do you think you need to get? Quite interested in seeing the Leonids one (never seen a meteor shower before), though I know clear skies can't be guaranteed.

Some sleepy place Kent or Essex should do it, or straight down the A3 into the greenbelt past epsom/towards Guildford way, so if that's what you have to do it's probably better to wait for a stronger meteor shower to make it worthwhile. But if you already live in the sticks then go for it.

Incidentally... I've found the best way to experiece this is to wait for the recommended time (the showers recommended maximum) ..put on loads of layers, and lying on a camp bed right away from any light, facing halfway away across the sky from the radiant (ie Orion in this case, so directly up will do). Your eyes will accustomise quickly and you'll be seeing meteors all over the place. Get it right & you'll be blown away. Spliffs is optional.

 

[Biddlybee]

Don't think Camberwell counts as the sticks

So, probably best to wait... is there somewhere to find out about when they're due, and how big/worthwhile they'll be?

Cheers for the tips... blanket, tea, spliffs

 

[MarkMark]

Arn't you in Croydon?

I can see all the stars from my back garden, it's almost always a clear sky. Not like when I was in the big smoke.

Still a bit too built up there, but not to far away from the green belt to find darker places with a dark eastern view, there's a good test you can do... use a star map & see if you can see all the stars of the little bear (whose tail star is the pole-star, and always in the same place).. if you can, you#re in business

 

[MarkMark]

So, probably best to wait... is there somewhere to find out about when they're due, and how big/worthwhile they'll be?

I've only ever seen red stars in Camberwell.

I think the bbc site has good info about when & where to see showers http://www.bbc.co.uk/space

 

[MarkMark]

I've just googled this one too... looks good, stick with the Major ones
http://www.serve.com/wh6ef/comets/meteors/calendar.html

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Still a bit too built up there, but not to far away from the green belt to find darker places with a dark eastern view, there's a good test you can do... use a star map & see if you can see all the stars of the little bear (whose tail star is the pole-star, and always in the same place).. if you can, you#re in business

I'm pretty sure I have seen that from my garden. I can usualy see them all if it's clear.

 

[MarkMark]

Trust me, it's often the difference between seeing one or two per minute and seeing hundreds per minute.

 

[El Sueno]

It's not far from Croydon to the great outdoors. Fifteen minutes in the car will get me outside of the M25 and there's plenty of good hill spots around the north downs.

Cheers for the photo tips MarkMark.

 

[MarkMark]

glad to help, good luck

for the rest of us stuck in london... u can still "hear" meteors during the peak shower via this here interweb link
http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/nasameteorradar.html

 

[Biddlybee]

cheers MarkMark

 

[ska invita]

Whats the cloud cover looking like in the south london/m25 area? Thinking of going for a drive, but if you cant see anything not sure if its worth it...