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pbholmes · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 124 Location: Dalgety Bay

In November, in the small hours, we have the Leonids.
In December, thoughout the night, the Geminids will make an appearance.

Source: The University of Texas McDonald Observatory.
Details and viewing tips: http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

piemanius · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Well, I've seen buggrall so far. My neck's wracked in pain. My eyes look like peeled tomatoes. I've just aboot lost the will to live.

But, hey. I'm glad there's somewhere for me to go on these long dark Scottish nights. The wine has run oot. Some wise guy nicked me last snout and I'm raring tae go. C'mon gimme a meteor shower. Ah huv ma brolley ready.

pbholmes · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 124 Location: Dalgety Bay

That pretty much echoes my own experience looking for satellites.

In theory, it should be easier than looking for meteors, because you can look them up beforehand on Heavens Above, but most of them are too dim to see unless the sky is good and dark. Since I started a year ago, I've only seen one satellite, but it was a really good one - bright and zippy.

A friend of mine who isn't interested in astronomy at all, but who has a nice line in sailing rich people's yachts across the Atlantic for them when they can't be bothered to do it themselves, says that on a clear night in the mid-ocean it's ridiculously easy to see them. You just lie back and there they are.

piemanius · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 7

Satellites. Ahh yes. That old chestnut.
Myself and neighbour of a fine evening have clocked many.

As you say Heavens Above does really well in giving you info.

I have fun with this lot:
Realtime satellite tracking
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544

for ISS sightings near Dalgety Bay
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/reald...egion=Scotland&city=Edinburgh

ISS sightings across Scotland
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/reald...nited_Kingdom&region=Scotland

Main site here:
NASA Spaceflight Stuff
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Check for other spacecraft, satellites, shuttle etc and other earth orbiting debris and detritus.
http://science.nasa.gov//realtime/

And I get other such info here:
Like how big the asteroids are and how close to us they're gonna pass....
http://spaceweather.com
Recent interest has been with the noctilucent clouds in the northern hemisphere. Many pics submitted from Scotland and NI. And also the possible collision of the big red spot and junior shortly on Jupiter.

Some brilliant pics here of other strange phenomenon here:
http://www.atoptics.co.uk

Stare at a point between these two images of Jupiter, cross your eyes slightly and--pop!-- Jupiter jumps out in 3D http://spaceweather.com/swpod2006/24jun06/go_stereo2.jpg

Edit:
Might also be of interest
http://www.mapmaker.com/shadowfacts/sunclock6.asp

Eyes up!

pbholmes · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 124 Location: Dalgety Bay

Some pretty cool sites there.
Couldn't get the 3D Jupiter one to work, but the rest were brill.

NightHawk · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: DB

Last year around Jan/Feb+. I went to a viewing evening at my Uni's telescopes with a friend. We were given deck chairs to use on the roof of the building. Which was nice! We sat back and saw the most wonderful satelite/Meteor/shooting lights I have ever seen. Up to dozens in 30 minutes and many dozens throughout the crystal clear night. These were going from one very corner of the sky to the other. Some of them were going at an amazing pace.

I will never forget it. I have never seen another show like it again since.

Did anyone see anything like it around this time? And does anyone know if this was a known logged event?

Thanks for the links piemanius!

Thanks Neil.

pbholmes · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 124 Location: Dalgety Bay

Might be the Quadrantids.
http://comets.amsmeteors.org/meteors/showers/quadobs.html
More in new topic: http://dbastro.myfastforum.org/ftopic52.php

Paul.

NightHawk · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: DB

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrantids