topic Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight in Community Chat

Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Fri, 23 May 2014 22:36:13 GMT

Stargazers may see some celestial fireworks this Memorial Day weekend thanks to a new meteor shower from a comet that, according to some forecasts, has the potential to trigger a spectacular meteor storm late tonight and early Saturday (May 23 and 24). If bad weather spoils your view, you can watch it live online.

If rain or clouds spoil your stargazing view during the new shower, called the Camelopardalid meteor shower, there are webcasts tonight streaming live views of the celestial event. http://www.space.com/25987-meteor-shower-meteor-storm-webcasts-tonight.html

The best time to watch for meteors will be between 2 and 4 a.m. E.T. on May 24, according to NASA.

Look North
The meteors are predicted to radiate from the Camelopardalis constellation, which is near the North Star (because of this, the meteor shower has been named the “Camelopardalids”). So check your compass and face north to see where the action will start.

Watch Online
If you can’t get to a good viewing spot, you can watch the shower onscreen. NASA is hosting a live chat and video stream Friday at 11 p.m. E.T. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/watchtheskies/may-camelopardalids.html and Slooh will be live-streaming the event on YouTube starting at the same time http://events.slooh.com/

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

MickD — Fri, 23 May 2014 22:41:13 GMT

Marp ~ Thanks for the reminder. We have a telescope, but live 3 miles by the ocean....so possible cloud cover...hoping there won't be... I think DS would love to view it!

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Fri, 23 May 2014 22:46:49 GMT

East of where I am is supposed to be clear, not so sure about here but I'll check. A telescope is not necessary or recommended. The following is from one of the articles on viewing:

Don’t Use a Telescope
You might be tempted to use a telescope to get a closer look, but don’t depend on one. “Meteors zip across the whole sky, and you’ll miss them if you’re hunched over a telescope eyepiece.”

ETA: Hope we both have clear skies.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

MickD — Fri, 23 May 2014 22:47:57 GMT

Marp ~ Oh, okay...less for me to set up!! Thanks again!

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

JustJules — Fri, 23 May 2014 23:05:02 GMT

I love that stuff, but won't be able to watch it because we have rain, storms and cloudy skies forecast all weekend. I love getting out on a clear night and watching the stars, especially when there is a meteor shower predicted. Hope all of you that can view it enjoy!

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Melania — Fri, 23 May 2014 23:08:56 GMT

Thanks, Marp!! It might be a nice night for some gazing.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

madzonie — Fri, 23 May 2014 23:50:17 GMT

I've been looking forward to this, but we may have a cloud cover. :-(

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

cater — Sat, 24 May 2014 00:56:31 GMT

Thank you Marp for telling everyone about this event tonight. Just got the dining room window cleaned with invisible glass cleaner so if it is clear here I will be able to see it. heaven knows around here we watch the night sky all the time. Almost every night when the International Space Station flies over we watch it also. I have everyone watching for it just always have to remember what ever time they say it will be visible you better be looking at the sky at the exact minute or you will miss seeing it. Looking forward to seeing this tonight.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Sat, 24 May 2014 01:09:28 GMT

Cater,

More often than not the ISS passes overhead during the early morning hours so I rarely get to see it. I'm really hoping the skies are clear tonight and that I can stay awake. If so it will be a treat to see both the ISS and the meteors if I can tell them apart.

Anyone interested in knowing when the ISS will pass over your locations check out http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/ but heed Cater's warning about not being late. Most sightings last less than a minute.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

cater — Sat, 24 May 2014 02:19:50 GMT

Just got the window facing north clean so I will be sitting there hoping it is not cloudy. It is cloudy here right now but the Pittsburgh weather guys said by that time the sky should be clear.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

cater — Sat, 24 May 2014 06:07:18 GMT

Well I have been to the NASA site people are reporting they are seeing objects streaking through the sky. We have quite a bit of clouds here but I am going to stay up and see what happens .

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Sat, 24 May 2014 06:11:34 GMT

Cater,

I hope those people are reporting from the east coast. My sky has a few high, light clouds but I'm seeing plenty of stars so should be okay. I'm going back out and check in just a bit.

Hope your clouds disappear in time.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

cater — Sat, 24 May 2014 06:37:34 GMT

Yes they are in Ohio some are in Pa. I went on that site you recommended and they are all saying they are seeing things. I am going to stay up and see what happens but looking north I see clouds. Some one did say to look directly up into the sky. the morning paper delivery man comes through my driveway at 2:45am and he will have a heart attack if he see's me with my dining room window open and me with my head hanging out of it. Hope you see some thing. I checked and the International Space Station is supposed to fly over at 2:06am so I am going to watch for it.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Sat, 24 May 2014 08:04:43 GMT

I'm giving up. While I did see a spectacular light show it was from dozens and dozens of fireflies. Not uncommon and certainly not celestial. There may have been too much light to see any but the brightest meteors. Whomever is looking after my neighbor tonight has the place lit like a Christmas display with the entire house lit inside and out. Very unusual and very poor timing.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Preds — Sat, 24 May 2014 09:46:02 GMT

Couldn't see it here either.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

madzonie — Sat, 24 May 2014 16:44:19 GMT

I'm in southern AZ. I sat outside last night from 11 - 11:30 and saw 2. Maybe more came later, but I was too tired and chilly to stay any longer. I think the show was kind of a dud...and we had clear skies! I wonder if this "shower" will become an annual one like some of the others?

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

cater — Sat, 24 May 2014 17:11:26 GMT

Marp I finally gave up trying to see any thing up in the sky, every thing was fine then after 3am it became overcast that there was not a place in the sky that I could even see one star. Did you ever see the northern lights. I did one time I have a police scanner in my bedroom and it is on all night well I was listening to it and our local police were talking to each other on their radio's about the sky and how they had never seen it look like it was with all the colors. Well I just had to get up and go look out my dining room window and oh my gosh it was absolutely beautiful. I got my phone and called everyone I could think of at 4am to get up and look at the northern sky. I scared quite a few of them but they were all happy that I woke them up. Have never seen those northern lights since.

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

terrier3 — Sat, 24 May 2014 17:12:13 GMT

It was arranged for the guests at the Kimye wedding....

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

MickD — Sat, 24 May 2014 21:53:47 GMT

I got up at 3 am and cloud cover...sad face. But I did see some views on tv this am and it looked amazing!

Re: Meteor Shower or Possible Meteor Storm Overnight

Marp2 — Sat, 24 May 2014 22:01:34 GMT

Cater,

Yes, I have seen Northern Lights but it was years ago. Like the blue color in glaciers the lights are indescribable. No way to do them justice. Too far south to see them now.