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Old 10-10-2006, 04:20 PM
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Mikezoom
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Orionids?

Arn't the Orionids peaking in the next week or two? Anyone got more information? I will try to photograph some this year but have not heard much & yes I love google too but I have not seen anything about them concerning the Southern hemisphere. Thanks in advance guys & girls & clear skies!!!!

Mike.B.
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Old 10-10-2006, 04:52 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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Yes Mike,

The Orionids peak on 21st October.

Although our sky was littered with Fireballs from the North last night! ?? Bit wierd!
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Old 10-10-2006, 08:43 PM
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[1ponders] (Paul)
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For upcoming astronomical events, check the Events Calendar in the LH side bar.
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Old 11-10-2006, 03:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by [1ponders]
For upcoming astronomical events, check the Events Calendar in the LH side bar.
You Almost had me opening SN until I figured out what you really meant Doh!

regards,CS sunny days

Rob
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Old 17-10-2006, 08:56 AM
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Sorry if this has been asked but my japanese exchange student is bugging me to see 'shooting stars'.What time on the 21st will be best for viewing the Orionids?
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Old 17-10-2006, 09:10 AM
jase (Jason)
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Generally, the early morning hours are best, but this can vary.
Check out http://skytour.homestead.com/met2006.html#anchor_10 for some general information.

Assuming clear conditions, I will be certain to set up a camera on the fixed tripod to see how many I can capture each hour. With a new moon, it should be as good as it gets for the Orionids.

If you have the urge to do some serious research go to www.imo.net
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Old 17-10-2006, 11:19 AM
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Even though they peak on the 21st, for a night or 2 before and after that date you should still get a good display.
Orion rises around midnight.
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Old 17-10-2006, 11:21 AM
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So how many degrees away from the radiant should I aim the camera? 20, 30 degrees????
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Old 17-10-2006, 11:36 AM
jase (Jason)
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This depends on the lens you'll be using. If you've got a fisheye or around 18mm-25mm, I'd point it straight up (zenith). Something longer i.e standard 35mm-50mm then I'd go for something around 20 degrees above the horizon. You can get some really nice shots if you decide to frame a foreground object like a tree or water feature, like a pond or dam - nice reflections. Depends on how creative you want to get. The orionids generally has a peak 20 an rate so don't expect to easily capture one. If you've got an all sky camera your chances improve.
Certainly don't waste your time by pointing the camera at the radiant. You'll see more overhead or in the NW. I've wasted plenty of film before and I intend to do it again. Chance of getting one of film is the fun. If you're shutter aint open, then you wont capture anything.

http://www.spaceweather.com/meteors/...phototips.html
General tips.
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Old 17-10-2006, 12:52 PM
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Thanks for the info.

Lets do some calculations:

ZHR says 20 meteors/hour.

My StarTracker will track for 3/4 of an hour before I have to reset it. This gives a potential 3/4 * 20 = 15 meteors/hour.

With my camera on wide angle (~ 35mm) I will only be aiming at a small section of the full 360 deg. arc around the radiant point. Lets say 60 deg. for arguments sake.

Therefore the number of meteors available to me is 15 * 60/360 = ~2 meteors/hour.

My camera has a max. exposure time of 64 secs. It then spends another 64 secs. processing the image before it is ready to take another shot. This gives me a 50% duty cycle. Hence my 2 available meteors/hr becomes 1 meteor/hour.

I can live with those odds. I'll have a crack.
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Old 17-10-2006, 01:05 PM
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Thats the spirit Andrew. You never know your luck. I generally use an old 35mm camera with a bulb setting so I can leave the shutter open for long periods of time. I'm not interested in tracking, simply capturing as many meteors as possible.

Post your images for us all to see if you get a hit.
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Old 18-10-2006, 12:07 PM
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I'm not sure what you guys can see in the cities, but I have been seeing Orionids for a few days already in my dark sky. Some are verrrry faint. Others are nice and bright. The rate has been about 1 meteor every 2 - 3 minutes, and occasionally 2 or 3 within the same minute.
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Old 18-10-2006, 12:55 PM
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Wow Ken. Thats impressive. Looks like the IMO information of a 20/hr peak rate may not be accurate. You should collect some of these figures and report back. Perhaps we are in for a good surprise this year. I'll be heading down to my dark sky site Friday evening. Looking foward to the light show.
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Old 18-10-2006, 01:29 PM
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I cut and paste this info from MeteorShowersOnline.


The Orionids are barely detectable on the beginning and ending dates, but observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see around 20 meteors per hour at maximum, while observers in the Southern Hemisphere will see around 40 meteors per hour. The maximum can last two or three nights, although there is evidence of some fluctuation from year to year.

Here's hoping for a bit of fluctuation!
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Old 19-10-2006, 10:15 PM
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At 23:40 last night 18/10/06 I saw two quite bright Meteors side by side leaving medium length trails, passed over my head from the direction of Orion heading West North West. quiet spectacular.
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Old 20-10-2006, 05:14 PM
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Im still waiting for a clear sky.....
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  #17  
Old 21-10-2006, 12:09 PM
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Weather is patchy in Melbourne at the moment.
Hopefully it clears tonight - tomorrow morning for some viewing.
Orionids can be patchy but you never know what you may catch when you drop the line in
Happy viewing.
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Old 21-10-2006, 05:42 PM
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Darren and I stayed up watching the Orionids till 4:30 am this morning.

It was Fantastic in Dark sky!!!!!!!

Exremely bright, with loooong trails.

We (Darren, his daughter, me and my 3 kids) have set ourselves up in my back paddock for another night of Orionids. Got the tents up, the kids ready, and scopes cooling for viewing before the event after midnight.

Forecast for Snake Valley is clear sky and -4 degrees with a sever frost warning.
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Old 22-10-2006, 09:53 AM
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Last night a few of us went to the local observatory site and observed between midnight and dawn.
Unfortunately we had cloud for at least an hour and a half of this time.
We did get to see over a dozen Orionids some very bright with spectacular trains.
It was well worth the effort.
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Old 22-10-2006, 01:04 PM
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ballaratdragons (Ken)
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WOW!!!

We (Darren and I)had an excellent night!

After a usual sky tour thru the 12" and the ED80 we hunted down Galaxies thru Fornax and Eridanus.

We had 10/10 Trans 10/10 seeing!!!!!!!!

Then the show started!

We sat back comfortably on our recliners as the meteors gave a great display. There were faint fast white ones every minute or so, then at least every 2 minutes was an amazing yellowish streak across the sky.

One in particular had us jump up out of our comfort to watch it as it went from Orion, under LMC, kept going and then finally fizzed out about 5 degrees above the SW horizon, leaving a trail the whole way. As the head faded, the end of the tail started to fade and then all the tail dissolved. The whole tail was visible for about 6 seconds!!!!!!!

By 2:30am we couldn't stand the minus 5 temperature any longer. We were frozen, and called it a night.

All up, we had a great observing time both thru the scopes and then the Orionid show
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