The germanids are coming!

[Roch09]

The germinids are coming.:eyepop: A meteor shower ment to be the best of the year. Unfortunately the moon will block some of this event :sadeyes:but the moon is sure to set after midnight. Keep an eye out for rare fire balls cause you never know when thed pop up.;) It is recomended that you watch the event away from light polution.The shower is expected to peak between 13 of december to the 14th of december. We are probably expecting 40-50 meteors per hour. So keep a look out

[Astroman]

Hi Rochelle,

It's actually the Geminid Meteor Shower, not the Germinids. Named after the Constellation in which they appear to come from, or where the radiant is. Always look forward to this shower, only really observed them for the last two years, and they never disappoint. Hopefully with my dew heater on the camera I should be able to run all night... Might have to see about borrowing a 10-20mm lens now...

[leon]

Minor detail Andrew, sounds like well worth spending half the night out in the dark.

Leon

[Roch09]

I do agree that the germanids are prety cool that is way I move out of the light polution to get more meteors. Last year I went to Gingin with a club named AGWA and we saw a fire ball at sunset not far from Jupiter.

[gaa_ian]

I too look forward to seeing the Geminids.
Up here in the top end it is all very weather dependant, with storms often interfering with the Geminids. Last year was the first year I have been able to observe them. I imagine it will be a challenge for most of Eastern Australia too, given our La Nina weather pattern.
The history and source of the Geminids are very interesting too.
This is an article i wrote for last years Geminids.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Geminids-Meteor-Shower-in-2009&id=869977
Lets hope the weather is kind.

[Suzy]

Ian, Thank you, that was a very informative article. :)

About five days ago I caught three within half an hour, so if that's any indicator, I think I might be in for a terrific display tonight as it peaks. Only hope the clouds will clear.

Thanks for posting Rochelle, and I hope you get clear skies to enjoy this event. :)

[gaa_ian]

No Worries Susy, you are welcome :)

[astroron]

Thanks for the heads up on Ian's Article Suzy:thumbsup:
Nice article Ian,:thanx::thumbsup:

[msshhhh]

Oh my gosh.. I really cant wait! This is my first meteor shower..
Will I be able to see anything in inner west Sydney, or will there be too much light pollution? I'm a really terrible driver...so I don't think I should be driving anywhere past midnight..

[BLiTZWiNG]

You should be fine providing it aint raining!

[adman]

anyone seen any tonight? I have been sitting outside for 15 minutes - but nothing so far....?

Adam

[jenchris]

I've just come in at 1.05 and I saw only 12 in the last 2 hours

[Suzy]

I grabbed 7 between 11.30 & 12.30. A couple of them were very short and quick not leaving Gemini at all. From 11.30 to 12.00 the sky played a dance between clear to clouded over, but from 12am on, nice and clear. Gave it up when the constellation went behind a massive tree. All in all, a great night. :D

[Binca]

I just came in - spent close to 45 minutes out there and saw nothing - in the way of a meteor shower anyway. Saw a very pretty star cluster, no idea what though. It didn't help that thin layers of cloud kept rolling over, and most of the time gemini was around 80% covered, but still, very dissapointed :(

[astroron]

Suzy, you beat me;), I grabbed the Grand Total of TWO from about 19:30 till 01:40 when I decided to call it a night,due to persistant cloud:mad2:

[steve000]

Well it was 1:30am when i woke up 30mins before my alarm.. Out i go with camera in hand into the Brisbane twilight. Not a cloud in the sky and as it had rained earlier very little pollution except for light pollution! How can a city with around 2mill people make so much light pollution at 1:30am! i mean COME ON!.

Anyway 45mins of observing and a flat battery I call it a night, I saw 4.

If only it wasn't a work night and I was a my mums place out in the sticks, the sky is black out there not some weird gray.
waking up this morning was beautiful, sunlight everywhere it was a nice change from the cloudy 3 months we have experienced.

[steve000]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-msfc

Live view of shower in the US

[BLiTZWiNG]

Not much of a shower though! I've seen a couple on it... and a plane :/

[gaa_ian]

Well, you all did better than me !
The monsoon trough has well and truely set in over the Top End.
Lots of Clouds, rain and storms.
I do love the wet season though as it cools everything down. Sitting on the Verandah with friends in the evening enjoying a great bottle of Barossa red as the lightning crackles accross the clouds, is hard to beat.