Geminids - more 'fireballs'? - Page 4

paulchandler6 · #31 (**permalink**) 17-12-2007, 07:25 AM

Had a few last nite, including a really good one that lasted for 6 seconds. The longest I've seen one. I guess its down to size and the bigger they are the longer it takes to burn up?

Paul

petermcgain · #32 (**permalink**) 17-12-2007, 01:02 PM

I was up at 5.45 this morning and while looking at Venus a meteor zipped by just above Venus. And that was quickly followed by a satellite! By the time I got my bins out the satellite had gone, but it was a great moment. Arcturus was looking very bright too. Is it really 30 times the size of our sun?

zarney · #33 (**permalink**) 17-12-2007, 02:13 PM

unfortunatly it was cloudy where I am and I was unable to see any.

I think the geminids come from a rocky asteroid or an old comet covered in debris it acts a little like a coment but instead of gas being lost it looses some of its rocky/dusty parts.
The particles being larger and denser than comet dust produce a more "fireball" like apperance.

James M · #34 (**permalink**) 18-12-2007, 12:21 PM

There's one in January isn't there? the Quadrantids?

carlos_dfc · #35 (**permalink**) 18-12-2007, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petermcgain

Arcturus was looking very bright too. Is it really 30 times the size of our sun?

Take a look at this video - Arcturus gets a mention - in fact, compared to some stars, it's just a 'baby'
YouTube - Star Scale of the Universe Astronomy Amazing
The one at the end (VV Cephei) is something like 750-800 million miles in diameter (around 8 astronomical units)
By comparison, the Sun is less than a million mles across (875,000 miles), the earth is 1au from the Sun (93 million miles), Mars is about 1.5au, Jupiter a little over 5au, Saturn about 10au

carlos_dfc · #36 (**permalink**) 18-12-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James M

There's one in January isn't there? the Quadrantids?

Yep peak is Jan 3rd
Not as active as the better known showers, but worth a look.

Radiant is in Bootes (Used to be in a - now defunct - small constellation called 'Quadrans Muralis' (hence the name 'Quadrantids') which is now the 'upper' part of Bootes and also part of Draco
Low to the NNE around 9-10pm - climbing to medium-height in the NE by around midnight.

This shows approximately where the radiant will be

James M · #37 (**permalink**) 18-12-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos_dfc

Yep peak is Jan 3rd
Not as active as the better known showers, but worth a look.

Radiant is in Bootes (Used to be in a - now defunct - small constellation called 'Quadrans Muralis' (hence the name 'Quadrantids') which is now the 'upper' part of Bootes and also part of Draco
Low to the NNE around 9-10pm - climbing to medium-height in the NE by around midnight.

This shows approximately where the radiant will be

Thanks Carlos.

petermcgain · #38 (**permalink**) 18-12-2007, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlos_dfc

Take a look at this video - Arcturus gets a mention - in fact, compared to some stars, it's just a 'baby'
YouTube - Star Scale of the Universe Astronomy Amazing
The one at the end (VV Cephei) is something like 750-800 million miles in diameter (around 8 astronomical units)
By comparison, the Sun is less than a million mles across (875,000 miles), the earth is 1au from the Sun (93 million miles), Mars is about 1.5au, Jupiter a little over 5au, Saturn about 10au

Wow, my mind is suitably blown!