[meteorite-list] 2008 Perseids

From: Notkin <geoking_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Aug 2008 13:44:37 -0700
Message-ID: <E97BFF8C-41CE-45BD-AA91-00021E982FA4_at_notkin.net>

Dear Listees:

It's almost that time of year again. Here are some viewing tips for
the 2008 Perseid shower for all you night owls. The expected peak is
in ten days' time:


PERSEIDS

Predicted Maximum: August 12, 2008 11:30 UT [= Aug. 12, 4:30am PDT; =
Aug. 12, 7:30 am EDT])
Moon: Waxing Gibbous (moderate interference)
(radiant map from IMO)

WHEN TO WATCH: Tuesday morning, August 12, from about 1:00 am until
morning twilight gets too bright.

The Perseids are probably the most-watched annual meteor shower. The
shower has a very long duration, from about July 15 through August
25. The shower is most interesting around its peak on August 12 or
13. This year, the peak comes on August 12 because of the leap year.
The radiant is above the horizon the entire night for observers north
of latitude 32N, but it is fairly low at the end of evening twilight.
Evening Perseid rates are fairly low, and the bright Moon makes things
worse this year. The real meat of the show comes during the predawn
hours when the Moon is down and the radiant is high.

Predawn rates for observers with truly dark skies may exceed 100
Perseids per hour (West Coast of North America and/or Eastern Asia may
be favored this year), with a nice sprinkling of sporadic and minor
shower meteors added to the mix. Adjacent mornings from August 10
through August 13 are well worth watching, although rates will be
significantly lower.

Perseids are fast meteors and tend to be fairly bright on average. An
occasional fireball is seen.


Source: http://skytour.homestead.com/met2008.html#anchor_9



Geoff N.
www.aerolite.org
Received on Sat 02 Aug 2008 04:44:37 PM PDT