[meteorite-list] Meteors from Halley's Comet

From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:10:17 -0400
Message-ID: <BANLkTimcBKfu04DupXa+m1DP2GJZiJ7cXw_at_mail.gmail.com>

Every time I have made plans to watch a meteor shower, I was
disappointed. I'd bring out the lounge chair, cigars, coffee, and my
patient eyes. After hours of gazing skywards, my meteor count would
be 2 or 3.

On the other hand, whenever I would set up my scope with the intention
of doing some routine stargazing, I'd always catch a stray meteor or
two. One night, with no meteor shower on the calendar, I saw 7 stray
meteors - that's beats my total for any meteor shower. Go figure. :)

Oh well, a night out disappointed by a meteor shower, beats a night
inside complaining on the internet about it. ;)

Best regards,

MikeG

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On 4/27/11, Ron Baalke <baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov> wrote:
>
> http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/27apr_eta/
>
> Meteors from Halley's Comet
> NASA Science News
>
> April 27, 2011: Looking for an adventure? Get up in the wee hours of
> the morning May 6th and head out into the country, far from the city
> lights. You won't be alone. The birds will be up and singing about the
> coming dawn, and, of course, about the eta Aquarid meteor shower.
>
> The eta Aquarids are best viewed from the southern hemisphere, but
> there's something special about them no matter where you live: "Each eta
> Aquarid meteoroid is a piece of Halley's Comet doing a kamikaze death
> dive into the atmosphere," explains NASA astronomer Bill Cooke. "Many
> people have never seen this famous comet, but on the morning of May 6^th
> they can watch bits of it leave fiery trails across the sky."
>
> A messenger from the dawn of the universe, Halley's Comet orbits the sun
> once every 76 years. Each time it swings by the sun, intense solar heat
> vaporizes about 6 meters of ice and rock from the nucleus. The debris
> particles, about the size of sand grains, spread along the comet's
> orbit, filling it with tiny meteoroids.
>
> "Although Halley's Comet is deep in the outer solar system at the moment
> and won't return to Earth until 2061, it treats us to a meteor shower
> twice a year as our planet passes by the debris cloud," says Cooke. "In
> May we have the eta Aquarids, and in October the Orionids."
>
> And there is something especially significant about the 2011 eta Aquarids.
>
> "This is your one chance this year to see meteors blaze across the sky
> without glaring moonlight dimming them."
>
> A thin crescent moon will vacate the sky in the early evening, leaving a
> dark canvas for the display. Early risers are in luck, as the best
> viewing is an hour or two before dawn. Lie down where you can see as
> wide an expanse of sky as possible to catch more meteors with your
> peripheral vision. Look up into the darkness and relax.
>
> The radiant for the eta Aquarids is in the constellation Aquarius:
> diagram
> <https://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/04/26/radiant.jpg>.
> But you don't need to look toward the radiant to see the meteors.
>
> "Meteors can appear in any part of the sky," says Cooke. "In fact their
> trails will tend to point back toward the radiant, so if you look that
> way the meteor may appear somewhat stubby. They'll appear much longer
> going by you than coming at you."
>
> You won't need binoculars or a telescope to observe eta Aquarid meteors.
> The naked eye's field of view is usually best for seeing meteors, which
> frequently streak more than 45 degrees across the sky.
>
> "Eta Aquarids are fast, moving at 66 km/s (148,000 mph!), and often
> trace long paths across the sky, sometimes leaving glowing, persistent
> trains. In the northern hemisphere, depending on your latitude [the
> closer to the equator the better], you should see from 10 to 40 meteors
> just before dawn."
>
> Remember to pack a reclining chair or an old blanket to lie on, and a
> thermos of hot coffee would be nice. After all, you'll be up mighty
> early! The spring night air may be damp and chill, so bring along
> another blanket--or better yet, a big furry dog, both for warmth and
> company. Golden Retrievers work nicely.
>
> It's sure to be a memorable experience. A night breeze caressing your
> cheek, the aroma of hot coffee in the predawn air, a gently rising
> chorus of birdsong accompanying your own personal light show -- and your
> greatest admirer by your side. It just doesn't get any better.
>
> Author: Dauna Coulter
> Editor: Dr. Tony Phillips
> Credit: Science at NASA
>
> More Information
>
> On May 5, NASA meteor experts will host an afternoon live Web chat from
> 2-3 p.m. Central time and an "up all night" chat from 10 p.m. on the
> 5^th to 4 a.m. on the 6^th (Central time). Get ready to help NASA watch
> the skies! Join live Web discussion about this shower -- spawned by
> Halley's Comet! -- and all things meteoric. Details here...
> http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/aquarids2011.html
>
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Received on Wed 27 Apr 2011 07:10:17 PM PDT