patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Meteors

Friday, November 9, 2012

Taurids Meteor Shower to Peak Nov. 12

Look to the skies for some stunning light displays this November and December.

As you hang holiday lights and light the candles, cast your gaze upon the universe's natural fireworks, as well.  A thin crescent moon in 2012 will provide for dark nights and early morning light to enhance this year's North Taurid meteor shower display that peaks Monday, Nov. 12, according to EarthSky.org. To see the showers, look for the moon and Venus in the east before sunrise Nov. 10 and Nov. 11. On Nov. 12, the moon will be below Venus, next to Saturn, according to EarthSky. Space.com reports the best time to see the Taurids meteors, or, "Halloween fireballs," started Nov. 5 and peaks on Monday, as the moon diminishes in brightness each night.  Ten to 15 yellow-orange meteors may appear per hour each night and appear to move very …

Friday, April 20, 2012

Meteors Might Put on Some Kind of Show

But lower your expectations about what you will actually see this weekend.

Who doesn’t like to watch a good meteor shower? The Lyrids, which occur every April when the Earth passes through the orbit of the comet called Thatcher, are expected this weekend. Bruce Abels, community relations director of the Fox Valley Astronomical Society, said if you really are determined to see a sky show, go outside with “a blanket, a comfortable chaise lounge chair, a pot of coffee and your dog and wait.” But don’t expect to see much in this area, he warned. You need luck, he said. “You have to be in the right place at the right time. This isn’t an event worth the effort.” If you are lucky you may see some shooting stars. Estimates vary from as low as two to as many as 20 per hour. The moon will be new, which means it will not be…

Got a Hot Tip?