What meteor shower?

Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:19:30 -0700, wrote:

Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

10 minutes is not adequate time for Perseid watching. An hour or two
of uninterrupted viewing is necessary. Also, you did not describe your
sky conditions. Severe light pollution will also limit your view to
only the brightest Perseids which seem to be about 30% of the total
count you might see at a darker observing site.

I observed 37 Perseids from 12:30 to 2 AM EDT at a site with a
limiting magnitude of about 5.5, with the exception of considerable
light pollution on the northeastern horizon. The meteors seemed to
come in groups every 15 to 20 minutes. It was not a constant rate for
me.

The count from 9:30 to 11:30 PM that same Sunday evening was only 21.

---
Michael McCulloch

On Aug 13, 3:19 pm, wrote:
Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.


It helps to observe when the Perseid radiant is well above the
horizon; from 2 a.m. to twilight is good. Try the Geminid shower (in
December) which has a radiant that is well placed in the sky all
night, for the northern hemisphere.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

From Pittsburgh suburbs I saw 2 within 6 minutes about 10:30PM EST last
night. So I told my daughter and boyfriend to come out for a look. They saw
nothing for the next fifteen minutes and went back inside assuming I had
lost it.

I went to bed 'cause thin clouds rolled in. Woke up at 3:30AM, noticed clear
skies, lay on the sidewalk in my PJs and watched about 4 or 5 short-duration
meteors in about 30 minutes. So me, I'm happy.

wrote:
Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

We saw 5 bright meteors/fireballs within an hour from about 8:30 PM to
9:30 MDT. We were observing in general so not really looking for them.
But they were hard to miss! After that I didn't see any more.

Two things about meteor observing: you need to spend a lot more than 10
minutes, and don't put too much stock in when the experts say you should
go out to watch. Just spend as much time as you can and keep your eyes
open.

Greg

--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)

SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://comets.skyhound.com

To reply take out your eye

"TR Oltrogge" wrote in message
news:ZR3wi.6601$Ns6.4899@trnddc01...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.



From Anaheim, CA, limiting magnitude of ~4.0 Sky hazy with high, thin clouds
moving through. Observed for about one hour starting 0300 PDT. Saw nine
Perseids in the first 40 minutes, then nothing the remaining 20 minutes.

wrote:

Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

had camera gear etc etc etc all ready. clear sky clock said
clear as a bell here and at my observatory however! it had been
since 6 hours already. By midnight of the12th CSkyC was still
saying clear here and 30 miles distant BUT it was still full overcast
here. So thinking CSK must be right and my eyes were wrong I
headed out. 18 miles later still full cloudy cover. I turned around
and came home.

I have never known the Clear Sky Clock to be so wrong
before??? ma'ze?

On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:19:30 -0700, wrote:

Didn't see a single one last night. We tried for 10 minutes each
beginning from
10 PM to 1 AM at about 1 hour intervals. Location is Houston suburbs
(central time). My son claims to have spotted one - I was looking in
the same direction, but didn't see it.

Meteors come when they come.

The BSAS and Metro Parks put on a public star party Saturday, August
11th, in order of the Perseids. Some of the club members stayed past
midnight. We saw a few meteors, including a couple of sporadics. The
trick to seeing meteors, besides getting as far from lights as
possible, is to keep looking. Stretch out on a beach towel or an
outdoor lounge chair. It helps to be in a crowd.

Bud
--
The night is just the shadow of the Earth.