Geminids - more 'fireballs'?

Jolanta Zofia Nowak · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 02:06 PM

Here's hoping for some dark and non -cloudy skies in a few nights time.

I understand that the Geminids may have an asteroidal rather than a cometary source.

Does this have any implications for the number of truly bright 'fireballs' likely to be seen as compared, say, with the Perseids?

naturelover · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 02:10 PM

hi jzn what a mouthfull of a name you have,anyway a warm welcome to the site,have fun and enjoy.

Tazni · #3 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 04:03 PM

Well I don't understand much of that post because I'm stupid =]

But I can tell you what I know!

The geminids should be having a meteor storm on the 7th December, but shouldn't fully peak until about the 12/14th December.

It should last an entire day so everyone should get a look if it's dark and clear =] Get your cameras pointing in that direction because up to 1 shooting star every 30 seconds could be seen =]

The brightness of the shooting stars varies because the moon is absent in the sky, and therefore there is less light in the sky, and therefore more chances of seeing them =]

Even though there is much more time before it is due, I have definatly seen an increase in shooting stars lately!!!

You should be able to see them mostly to the left of Orion... Erm... and it should be early morning for the most sightings. I am definatly hoping for a clear night as I have had the past few nights!

carlos_dfc · #4 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 05:32 PM

Yes, the geminids originate from an asteroid rather than a comet.
This means that they tend to be slower, and the particles can sometimes be more robust, leading tofireballs.

As the name suggests, the radiant is in Gemini
This doesn't mean that you will see the meteors IN Gemini - but that they appear to be moving AWAY from Gemini.
Best place to see meteors is usually 30° - 45° away from the radiant, however, having said that, they do sometimes appear closer to the radiant than that, but when they do, they tend to be shorter.

Funnily enough - I think I may have spotted an early Geminid last night.
A Slow moving, fiery-orange colour, appeared from above Orion's belt, and moved down, fading out just below Rigel.

The Geminids radiant is near the star 'Castor', and if you look at the chart in the link below - trace an imaginary line from Rigel, back through Orion's belt - and it does point pretty much back to the Geminids radiant
http://www.eaas.co.uk/news/geminids.html

paulchandler6 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-12-2007, 06:20 PM

Lets hope we have a few clear nights as I for one would like to witness these. Thanx for the info everyone.

Paul

Tazni · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 03:56 PM

I've been having cloudly afternoons but spotlessly clear nights and I've seen quite a few shooting stars lately =] The camera is coming out!

The Woodman · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 05:43 PM

We had a good view of a meteorite fairly low in the north east from our house here in south Cumbria last night. My wife thought it was a firework initially the way in which it broke up. Cloud cover is a problem at the moment, clear starry skies one minute and then black cloud with heavy rain, occasionally thunder and lightning.

Tazni · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 05:45 PM

What's the actual chance of a meteor hitting the ground?

The Woodman · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 05:53 PM

My mother inlaw found a strange stone the size of a good orange in her garden in the Conwy valley a couple of years ago which she gave to me. It had a blackened appearance and was quite heavy. I took it to a museum who did a test and pronounced it an iron meteorite. They looked at its structure and from memory etched a small polished area with acid? I recall the resultant pattern as a "Widmanstatten Structure"?? Therefore, they must hit the ground sometimes.
It's now in a local primary school.
When I've been out and about at night at this time of year, I've seen meteorites burn up with spectacular results and crackling sounds but never quite sure how far away they are.

Tazni · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 08:05 PM

I hope to see some nice ones then =]

It's always nice to see something like a shooting star

honeybee · #11 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 08:28 PM

Has anyone looked at the sky tonight? it's clear here and the stars look really good. There's one really bright one, I think it could be Mars, supposed to be at it's clearest for 8 yrs

Jodrell Bank Observatory

Also mentions the Geminid shower.

Tazni · #12 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 09:09 PM

Yes it's definatly Mars I've been keeping an eye on it for a while now.

Can anyone tell me where the Big dipper is in the sky compared to Gemini because I am confused on the mapping of the sky =[

Amanda1979 · #13 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 10:20 PM

I have just come in and saw 10 in 15 minutes, varying brightness. Extremely clear sky tonight, milky way showing up quite nicely

paulchandler6 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 10:20 PM

Clear nite for a change. 2 shooters seen, one crossing Orion.
Mars very bright in the sky.

Paul

Amanda1979 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 10:22 PM

Look north east and you'll see the dipper rather like a question mark, now turn towards south west and you should pick out orion and seven sisters - geminids coming from around that area, happy viewing.

Amanda1979 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 10:26 PM

Does anyone live in South Dorset, 2 weeks ago I was driving in the country when there was this bright explosion (not flash) in sky - it was greeny/orange in colour - could this be a meteor making its way through atmosphere? Seen something smaller when I was a little kid years ago.

Wild-Woman · #17 (**permalink**) 11-12-2007, 06:04 AM

I was awake horribly early this morning but was rewarded by seeing a couple of, what I assume were part of, the Geminid shower. I was looking SW at about 4.15am.

The Black Rabbit · #18 (**permalink**) 13-12-2007, 06:03 AM

20 minutes of sky gazing last night produced TWO nice "shooting stars" from Castor in Gemini.
As Carlos said earlier in the thread, the ones appearing NEAR the radiant tend to be shorter - and these two, right next to castor, were exactly that - quite short and relatively slow.
Really nice to see though.
I do hope its clear again tonight...
Doug

Herptastic · #19 (**permalink**) 13-12-2007, 06:50 PM

Well, we have East & North facing windows and no garden..... So not much chance of seeing anything

I'm not an expert by any means when it comes to astronomy, but i love it all the same..... So i get a little disheartened when i miss things like this.

Tazni · #20 (**permalink**) 13-12-2007, 11:07 PM

30 minutes of stargazing ptonight in a wonderful clear sky produced over 30 shooting stars =]

Brillaint =D

The first one I saw was undebatably the best shot across the sky slowly leaving bright visible dust =]

Very pretty

Will defo be keeping my eye out tomorrow too =]

Everybody get out tonight though incase the clouds come and rain on our parade tomorrow because the stars are certainly falling over Ursa major

Shoot here my beauties =]

James M · #21 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 06:05 AM

After spending an hour out last night I saw 35 meteors, one of which was bright blue and lasted for about 2 seconds, it more than made up for when I missed the perseids earlier this year.

paulchandler6 · #22 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 06:47 AM

Had about half a dozen last nite in the short time I was watching. One left a rather long trail. Very impressive.
Also a lovely crescent moon in the sky earlier on.

Paul

The Black Rabbit · #23 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herptastic

Well, we have East & North facing windows and no garden..... So not much chance of seeing anything

I'm not an expert by any means when it comes to astronomy, but i love it all the same..... So i get a little disheartened when i miss things like this.

Sorry Herptastic. I'm obviously not aware of your situation, but to stand any chance of seeing meteor showers you really have to get outside, and preferably away from street lights. If you've not got a garden, find a local recreation ground or farmers field maybe?
Anyway, find a bit of countryside, in the dark, get comfortable (garden chair, blanket, flask of tea, hat, coat etc...) and be prepared to look at the sky for a good hour.
Take your kids / some friends / your partner, and make an evening of it - it beats whatever's on tv in my opinion!

Then you've got no need to miss anything or feel disheartened!

Again, I don't know your situation, so have no idea whether you are able to / would feel comfortable doing this, but if you can do it - its a fantastic way of seeing these showers...

The Annual Meteor showers are regular throughout the year - obviously the summer ones are a little more "user-friendly" than the winter ones, but very often (weirdly enough) the winter meteor showers appear in clearer, more "transparent" skies - crisp and cold, unlike the sometimes hazier skies of summer.

Please don't feel disheartened - just get out there next time!

Doug

Queen bee · #24 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 10:56 AM

I saw a "shooting star" on the way home yesterday. I read in the newspaper there was going to be a shower, so I'm pleased I saw one. I may have seen more, but it's so annoying that you have to be looking in the exact place that it appears to be sure that it is one... out the corner of your eye, it's hard to tell.

petermcgain · #25 (**permalink**) 14-12-2007, 10:29 PM

The Met Office 'promised' clouds tonight but I'm glad they were wrong and I managed to see a couple of shooting stars near Gemini. Mars is looking fantastic just wish I had more than 8x30 binoculars. Who ever it was reckoned they saw the Martian canals (Galileo?) must have had pretty good, or imaginative, eyesight. Tried looking for the star cluster M35 mentioned by Carlos in another thread, but couldn't make it out. Can still just see Comet Holmes, though it's looking very washed out.