Eta Aquariids

iansouthoz (Ian) · #1 06-05-2020, 12:12 PM

Hi there, was trying to locate the meteors last night but didn't see any. As a newbie I must be doing something wrong? I did everything according to Australian Sky and Telescope p47. I focused around n Aqr with both 25 and 10mm lenses but no meteor shower.
Stayed on it from 3-5am in the Barossa Valley SA. The scope is a star sense explorer dx 130az. Is the scope too weak to see this?
Cheers
Ian

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #2 06-05-2020, 12:34 PM

Hi Ian, and welcome!

Nothing wrong with the scope. An event such as a meteor shower is more of a wide-field thing IMO, so sit back in a sun lounger and enjoy. Maybe add a camera with a wide angle lens and take a series of long exposures?

Rainmaker (Matt) · #3 06-05-2020, 12:55 PM

I saw just 4 meteors this morning, 3 Aqr and 1 sporadic. Best to see them without the scope.

iansouthoz (Ian) · #4 06-05-2020, 01:10 PM

Thanks for the replies, I'll try again tonight.

iborg (Philip) · #5 06-05-2020, 01:21 PM

Hi

Looking through a scope for meteors is like looking through a small straw.

Most of the time, you will be be pointed in the wrong place.

Philip

Nothingman (John) · #6 07-05-2020, 08:10 PM

How much longer will we be able to see the eta aquariids? Peak was the 5th,
But the last two mornings have been overcast here in Melbourne. Will we get many more days of this?

Saturnine (Jeff) · #7 08-05-2020, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nothingman

How much longer will we be able to see the eta aquariids? Peak was the 5th,
But the last two mornings have been overcast here in Melbourne. Will we get many more days of this?

In a few short words, the show is over for this year, may still be the occasional meteor for a few more days but hardly worth getting out of bed just for them. More likely to see sporadics now than Eta Aquarids. Apparently they peaked a day earlier than forecast as well.