Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The first meteor shower of 2013 begins Tuesday.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is named for an extinct constellation, but the shooting stars that seem to sprout from it still arrive yearly, and the opening of the 2013 show will begin overnight Jan. 1, into Jan. 2. The Quadrantids is one of the lesser-known meteor showers of the year, but that doesn't mean it's anything less than spectacular. Take a look at this Quadrantids meteor shower video or these pictures of the Quadrantids. While the shower begins overnight on the first day of the new year, NASA tells us Quadrantid meteor shower peaks in the wee morning hours of Jan. 4: "[T]he Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 100 per hour, varying between 60-200. The waxing gibbous moon will set around 3 a.m. local time, leaving about two …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
EarthSky.org is saying that because there will be no moon, 2012 will be a great year to see this meteor shower.
The final major meteor shower of the year, the Geminid meteor shower 2012, will peak tonight, Thursday, into Friday morning and if you are willing to stay up late you should be able to see a great show. NASA reports that the Geminids is a relatively young meteor shower, with the first sightings occurring in the 1830s with rates of about 20 per hour. Over time the rate of visible meteors has increased and now viewers can expect to see 80 and 120 meteors per hour at its peak. Earthsky.org reports viewers can begin to watch the Geminids starting at 9 or 10 p.m. on Thursday. The peak will likely be between 1 to 3 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. That’s when the shower’s radiant point is highest in the sky as seen around the world. "With no moon to …
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Leonid meteor shower will be at its peak between Saturday and Tuesday, Nov. 20.
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Keep your eyes on the sky during the pre-dawn hours between Saturday and Tuesday, Nov. 20, because that's when the famous Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak. These meteors are fast -- about 40 miles per second -- and can leave trails of smoke, according to Astronomy.com. They will appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion and can vary in color. "Many Leonids are also bright. Usually, the meteors are white or bluish-white, but in recent years some observers reported yellow-pink and copper-colored ones," according to Astronomy.com. Here's one of the 10 coolest things to know about the Leonids, from Space.com: "Leonids are spawned by the comet Tempel-Tuttle. Every 33 years, it rounds the Sun and then goes back to the …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Montclair is set to have clear skies Saturday evening for the peak of the Orionids Meteor Shower.
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Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Earth passed through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet beginning Monday, Oct. 15, which gives us the benefit of the annual Orionids meteor shower. The shower should be at its peak Saturday night until just before dawn and lucky for Montclair residents, Saturday night looks clear. According to AccuWeather.com, Saturday evening should have very good conditions for stargazing. This year, the moon will be setting at about midnight, which will keep the sky darkened enough that -- barring cloud cover -- you should be able to see up to 15 meteors per hour. Know a good spot to sky gaze in town? Share your favorites in the comments section.
scarletxknight
10:54 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
ah i missed it! more ›