[meteorite-list] Catch the meteor shower on Sunday night

From: Timothy Heitz <Midwest_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:08:59 -0600
Message-ID: <D3917BD96A284B6687AE0F1AD21EF333_at_den>

Catch the meteor shower on Sunday night

By PRISCILLA DIELENBERG



GEORGE TOWN: Local astronomy buffs who want to catch this year's Geminid
meteor shower should remember to look to the skies this Sunday night.

Universiti Sains Malaysia's Astronomy and Atmospheric Science Research Unit
lecturer Associate Prof Dr Chong Hon Yew said the annual shower was visible
in the night sky to the naked eye in all directions.

This year's shower should peak at 1pm local time on Monday, visible to
observers in the western hemisphere in North America and South America.

"However, the Geminid shower has a broad peak of about one-and-a-half days
and so, with good weather permitting and a waning moon, many meteors should
be visible on Sunday night," he said.

The Geminid meteor shower occurs every year between Dec 9 and 19, reaching
its peak on Dec 13 and 14.

Dr Chong said the source of the Geminid meteors was from the asteroid 3200
Phaethon.

"Usually, meteor showers are caused by the debris of comets burning up in
the Earth's atmosphere."

He also invited the public to join his team's observations for free at the
field next to the unit's premises within USM, or the Pearl of Orion
Observatory next to the Bukit Genting Hill Leisure Park and Restaurant in
Balik Pulau, or the Lim Choon Kiat Private Observatory near Pulau Betong on
Sunday night.

"We will be observing the shower from 9pm all the way to morning but the
public can come and go any time as they please," he said



 All the best,

Tim Heitz

MIDWEST METEORITES - http://www.meteorman.org/









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Received on Thu 10 Dec 2009 02:08:59 PM PST