“Watching the Leonid meteor shower? Stock up on lots of hot tea! - Examiner” |
| Watching the Leonid meteor shower? Stock up on lots of hot tea! - Examiner Posted: 22 May 2010 10:34 AM PDT Stock up on tea, astronomy lovers! You'll need it to keep awake, and keep warm as you watch the Leonid meteor shower, projected to be a great show, next week! Peaking between the 16th and 17th of this month, the Leonids are a characteristically spectacular meteor shower, and experts estimate that up to 500 meteors per hour might be visible in the night and early morning sky this coming week. The Earth is currently passing through a trail of debris that was left behind by a comet in 1466! Look for the meteors in the southeast, between the constellations Leo and Cancer. As always, getting away from the bright San Jose city lights will provide the best environment for gazing at the stars. The sky should be darker than usual as the moon is waning and there will be a new moon (i.e., no moon visible) on the night of the 16th. Going camping in Big Basin, Merced Lake, or any of the other back country areas near San Jose will guarantee a beautiful, clear view, but for those of us who aren't up to sleeping in tents outdoors, in the middle of November, many people who live in east San Jose can watch the shower from their own back yards. If you want to be farther away from the city lights, however, then several county parks can provide good viewing spots. Some other local spots, including the hills behind Stanford University, are part of our public lands, and can be used for watching the stars. Remember to dress for the weather, and bring heavy blankets, lawn chairs, maybe some hand and foot warmers or hot water bottles, and insulated mugs filled with hot tea. A few snacks won't be out of place, either! Check out my recommendations for a star-gazing tea party, for suggestions. As for insulated mugs, you can get them at expensive places like Starbucks, Peet's Coffee & Tea, and R.E.I., or at less expensive places like Wal-mart, Target, and Walgreen's. Also, remember to mind your manners when you're star-gazing on open land; you share the viewing area and the night sky with other people, including expert astronomers. No pets, loud music, or bright lights! Also, you should make sure that kids and adults are quiet and not rowdy, and if you see someone using a telescope or other equipment, don't touch or walk in front of it without their permission. If you're considerate and respectful, they may even let you look through their telescope; offering to share your hot tea and snacks may "warm them up" to the idea! So go ahead, pull some things out of your tea party pantry, brew up a bunch of tea with a good caffeine content – a robust Irish or English Breakfast is a good choice – put it in your favorite insulated mug, and you'll be well on your way to a great star-watching evening. Keep warm with hot tea, hearty snacks, and blankets (including a blanket to put between you and your chair) and you'll be prepared to see this famous meteor shower! NOTE: this entire article is copyrighted by its author. If you would like to re-post or link to this article, a title with byline, and a link back to this page are required, along with my permission. You can e-mail me at southbayladiesteaguild@yahoo.com. Thanks! For more info: "How to choose a commuter mug." San Jose Astronomical Association 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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