Posted: 23 Sep 2010 01:50 PM PDT

About the Quadrantid Meteor Shower

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is named after the constellation Bootes, as the meteors appear to be falling from the constellation. The debris that forms the Quadrantid shower is possibly from the minor planet 2003 EH1,

though this is not known for certain. This year, the Quadrantid Meteor Shower will begin around December 28^th and will continue through January 7^th. The peak is January 3^rd and 4^th. Other meteor showers, Zeta Aurigids, Rho Geminids, and Gamma Velids will be active during the Quadrantids peak, though you are unlikely to see anything from them unless you have a telescope as they are much smaller showers more suitable to expert astronomers.

Viewing the Quadrantid Meteor Shower

In 2011, the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower will begin with a waning gibbous moon. On the evening of January 3^rd, the moon will set around midnight, allowing a darker sky. If you are able to view the shower from a "dark" area, you will see more meteors.

On January 3^rd, you should set up while facing east/northeast. Around midnight, the shower show will really begin, and you should look directly up. You will not need a telescope to view the shower, though if you have one you will be able to see more meteors and their hues in greater detail.

For a checklist of items to bring while viewing the Quadrantids and how to stay safe while having fun, check out How to View Meteor Showers.

Source:

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=10115
http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/
http://www.theskyscrapers.org/meteors/
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/multimedia/podcasting/2007/Quadrantids.html

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Dinosaurs wiped out by meteor shower lasting ages - New Kerala

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 07:24 AM PDT

London, Aug 30 : Dinosaurs may have been wiped out from the earth 65 million years ago by a meteor shower which lasted thousands of years, according to new evidences.

Scientists had identified a giant Chicxulub crater in the Gulf of Mexico as the site of a single meteor strike thought to have obliterated prehistoric life on earth.

But evidence for a second impact in Ukraine, dating back thousands of years before the Chicxulub impact, has raised the possibility that the dinosaurs may have been blitzed with a shower of meteorites, The Telegraph reported.

The Boltysh Crater in Ukraine was first discovered in 2002. But experts have unearthed a second cavity within the crater which they believe was caused by the aftermath of the Chicxulub impact - suggesting that the two meteor strikes occurred years apart as part of a wider "shower".

Scientists dated the two Boltysh impact zones by examining the pollen and spores of fossil plants in the layers of mud within.

Ferns are among the first plants to colonise a devastated landscape after a catastrophe, leaving layers of spores - dubbed "fern spikes" - which are considered good markers of past impact events.

The researchers found a second "fern spike" one meter above the first in the Boltysh crater - suggesting that two separate strikes occurred thousands of years apart.

"We interpret this second layer as the aftermath of the Chicxulub impact. It is quite possible that in the future we will find evidence for more impact events," said Simon Kelley of the Open University, who co-authored the study.

Monica Grady, a meteorite expert at the Open University, said the shower could have been caused by "the collision of Near Earth Objects".

The US space agency NASA has recently launched a programme "Spaceguard" which aims to monitor such Near Earth Objects as an early warning system of possible future collisions.

The new findings are published in the journal Geology by a team lead by Professor David Jolley of Aberdeen University.

--IANS

How to View Meteor Showers - Associated Content

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 12:24 PM PDT

Meteor showers are fun, sometimes unique, and sometimes surprising in their intensity. Many meteor showers happen annually that do not even require a telescope, meaning almost anyone can watch. First do some research

and find a schedule of annual meteor showers. There is almost a meteor shower every month of the year. The darker the area in which you are watching is, the more meteors you will be able to see. The term "dark area" is an area at least 40 miles from city lights.

Know Before You Go

- Determine when the shower is peaking.
- How many meteors you can expect to see, usually this is expressed in an hourly rate.
- What you can expect watching with the naked eye, with binoculars, and with a telescope.
- Which direction of the sky you should be facing.
- What phase the moon will be in during the peak hours, and how this will affect viewing.
- What time the moon sets, as this is usually when more meteors will be visible to the naked eye.
- Check local websites and newspapers to see if there is a viewing area near where you live.

What to Bring

- A comfortable lawn chair is a must; one that reclines is preferred to avoid neck strain while viewing.
- Appropriate clothes for the weather; a blanket if the meteor shower is occurring during cold weather.
- A map of the area, especially if you are traveling to a dark area.
- A flashlight and an extra set of batteries.
- Water, snacks, and a plastic bag for trash.
- First aid supplies.
- A telescope or binoculars if you have them.

As always, make others aware of where you plan on going to view the meteor shower, how long you expect to be gone, and what supplies you have on hand. Nature's own shows are the most fun when everyone returns safely.

Source: http://www.meteorobs.org/showers.html

Meteor

Thursday, September 23, 2010

“About the Quadrantid Meteor Shower of 2011 - Associated Content” plus 2 more

“About the Quadrantid Meteor Shower of 2011 - Associated Content” plus 2 more

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