worth setting the alarm clock, especially if living in rice paddy land already. though a short drive, and you are out of the city lights. 12am to 4am.Celestial light show
Astronomers predict a shower of up to 500 meteors per hour, visible to the naked eye, as the Leonid cycle reaches a 33-year peak in intensity.
According to NASA, a Leonid meteor shower of such intensity may not be visible for another 100 years
Observers enjoyed hundreds of meteor showers last night
BANGKOK, 18 November 2009 (NNT)-Star gazers were able to see the Leonids' meteor showers under the Thai sky despite the cloudy conditions in some areas.
Last night, the area where the Leonids meteor showers were reported were crowded with citizens, expats and star lovers. Over 200 people visited Rangsit Science Center for Education with the hope to see the meteor shower despite the unclear sky.
The phenomenon happens when the Earth passes through clouds of dusty debris shed by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. Around 100-150 meteors were expected to be plunging through the sky per hour with the possible velocity of 72 km per second.
In Thailand, the peak of Leonids shower rate was visible at Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai with 300 meteors plunging. Around 70 meteors were visible in Chachoengsao with visitors’ shout of joy. The shower could not be observed clearly under the sky of Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok provinces. However, campers still enjoyed the cities’ cool spell despite the countable number of meteorites.
The Leonids display was not a sign of irregular galaxy orbit, affirmed by the Royal Academic Astronomer, Mr Niphon Saipetch.
curious myself, as i was out and about yesterday, and it was completely overcast, making for a nice cool day, till i realize, sh*t, meteor shower tonight, things i enjoyed at the old house in rice paddy land, as pitch dark and easy to see. still overcast as sun set, and forgot to set clock, bummer, unless it was overcast still. this morning wasn't too bad, some high thin clouds, burning off as sun rose.anyone catch it anywhere...
Meteor Shower and Total Lunar Eclipse to Wow Skywatchers This Month
Skywatchers, grab your blankets. December's night sky spectacular will feature the best meteor shower of 2010 as well as the only total lunar eclipse of the year -- sights that should outshine any New Year's Eve fireworks display in terms of sheer wonder.
The massive Geminid meteor shower returns every year, so you'll have more chances if the cold proves too daunting on the night of Dec. 13. But anyone in North America who skips the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 will be missing what promises to be the best lunar eclipse show until April 2014.
This year's Geminid meteor shower is expected to be the best display of so-called "shooting stars" of the year and will peak during the overnight hours of Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.
Dazzling Geminid meteor shower
Like most meteor showers, the Geminids will be at their best after midnight (early on the morning of Dec. 14), when the Earth is heading directly into the meteoroid stream. But some will be visible earlier in the night, on the evening of Dec. 13, because the meteors' radiant (where they appear to originate) is nearly circumpolar, so they will stay in view above the horizon all night.