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Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Comet ISON Could Make Skywatchers' Year in 2013

The comet was discovered by two amateur astronomers in September.

  A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is on its way for star gazers. Local skywatchers might get to see Hunter's Comet — the newly discovered comet ISON. A NASA astronomer says ISON's fiery tail may be visible to those watching the night sky from October 2013 through January 2014. And the comet may hover into view without the help of a telescope. It all depends on whether the sun's heat vaporizes ices in the comet's body, scientists say in an article posted in the Huffington Post. Comet ISON will fly within 1.2 million miles from the sun's center on Nov. 28, 2013, astronomer Donald Yeomans, head of NASA's Near Earth Object Program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif, told the San Jose Mercury News. If the comet makes it …

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Spectacular Geminid Meteor Shower 2012: When to Watch This Week

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 …

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