“Meteor shower from Halley's Comet peaks, see it tonight - Examiner” plus 1 more |
| Meteor shower from Halley's Comet peaks, see it tonight - Examiner Posted: 10 May 2010 04:53 PM PDT If you want to see Halley's Comet itself, you'll have to wait until 2062. However, if you want to see cosmic leftovers from the famed comet, head out tonight! The Eta Aquarid meteor shower actually peaked this morning, but unfortunately, the Cleveland area was blanketed with cloud cover for most of the night which means no meteors. The good news is that the meteor shower is anything but finished as the meteors will continue streaking across the sky tonight and in the following nights. For more good news, things are looking to be mostly clear tonight. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower is caused by the Earth racing through a trail of debris from Halley's Comet. As the Earth orbits the Sun, it passes through this trail of space junk every May, reaching the thickest stretch of debris on the morning of the 6th. However, Eta Aquarid meteors can be seen for a few nights before or after that date. The bright streaks of light are caused by small particles of debris hitting the Earth's atmosphere and burning up on entry. The shower gets its name because the meteors seem to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, specifically a star known as Eta Aquarius. As for Halley's Comet itself, it is named for Edmond Halley, who was the first man to predict the comet's return after noticing that a large comet was seen every 76 years. The only thing that can ruin the show are clouds (like last night) and a bright Moon. The bad news is that the Moon is up and in the South, just the spot where the constellation of Aquarius is rising in the wee hours of the morning, around 4am. More bad news is that, at the time, Aquarius is very low in the South/Southeast sky, rising just a few hours before the Sun. In all, this makes for a narrow window of viewing opportunity. Besides meteors, once a year photo opportunities await. When it comes to photographing the shower, a digital SLR is a must. Having the camera compatible with a programmable remote makes shooting a meteor shower very easy. For a lens, the standard 18-xx kit lens will work fine, but an ultrawide starting in the 10/12mm range is even better. Focus the lens manually on a distant object first, then disable the autofocus. Next, set up the tripod, aim the camera at Aquarius, set the camera to a low ISO, and take timed exposures to see how long the photograph can go without star trailing caused by the stars rising in the sky. If the sky appears too bright, stop down the lens to let less light through to the sensor and test accordingly. Once the settings are good, you're ready to go. Using a programmable remote will allow you to do something else while the camera takes pictures should you not want to be out all night. The only thing that will need to be done manually is to go out from time to time and re-center the camera on Aquarius, as it will eventually move out of the field of view as it continues to rise in the sky. If you happen to own an equatorial telescope mount with a motor on the right ascension (polar) axis, attach the camera to this to keep Aquarius centered in the field for a truly push the button and forget it photo shoot. Without a programmable remote, you will undoubtedly have to stay out and tend the camera to keep it shooting. For anyone in the Lorain County area, the Black River Astronomical Society will be hosting a public star party (clear sky only) on Friday from 9-11pm, the Eta Aquarids will be the program theme as they should still be streaking through the sky even tomorrow night. Unfortunately, at this early hour, there probably won't be many meteors, though. The event will be held at the Lorain County Metroparks Equestrian Center on Nickel Plate Diagonal Rd. in Carlisle Township (detailed directions are on the group's website, see link above). The event is free and open to the public, so come on out! For more info: Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
| Sylvan Dell Publishing Supports Meteor Day 2008 - PR.com Posted: 13 May 2010 04:47 AM PDT Charleston, SC, June 28, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Monday, June 30, is Meteor Day 2008. What better time is there for families to head outside together and search for shooting stars in the night sky? "Shooting stars" are not really stars at all. Technically, the bright streak of light caused by a "shooting star" is really caused when a small particle or chunk of stony matter—known as a "meteoroid"—enters the earth's atmosphere from outer space. Friction heats the meteoroid, causing it to glow as it falls to the surface of earth—hence, a "shooting star." Millions of meteors occur in the earth's atmosphere every day, and sometimes, the earth comes in contact with streams or swarms of tiny meteoroids, known as "meteor showers." Sylvan Dell Publishing has an active interest in meteors, planets, and the solar system. They believe in "science and math through literature." Their beautiful books educate as they entertain, and children and parents will both enjoy their playful stories. Read on for some exciting tips for Meteor Day 2008 from Sylvan Dell Publishing and their online educational tools, "For Creative Minds." Five Steps to a Fantastic Meteor Watching Party 1. Plan ahead. You can see meteors any night, but you'll see most during one of the big yearly meteor showers, such as the Perseids (August) or Leonids (November). 2. Set your alarm. The ideal time to spot meteors is in the very early morning—around 4 a.m. If you have a choice, pick a night close to a new moon or when the moon sets before 4 a.m. That will give you better visibility. 3. Keep it dark. Get away from street and house lights if you can. If you must use a flashlight, cover the light with red cellophane to keep from spoiling your night vision. 4. Pack smart. Bring a blanket, sleeping bag, or folding lawn chair. Dress warmly, even in summer. And don't forget the hot chocolate. 5. Invite your friends. Telling jokes and singing songs helps to pass the time between meteors. Or, just lie back quietly and listen to the sounds of the night. Want to learn more about meteors? Go to www.SylvanDellPublishing.com and click on Pieces of Another World, the children's book by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Salima Alikhan. You'll find links to games, puzzles, information on moon rise/set times and the best nights to see a meteor shower. ### About Sylvan Dell Publishing Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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