Just wondering first of all, if it will be possible to see the Geminids in the Southern Hemisphere?
If so, when would be the best time to see it, and how many per hour is estimated to be seen?
Yes, also looking forward to this shower. I will have a look Sat and Sun nights, then crawl outa bed for a supposed peak from 2am Monday.
It is supposed to be good a couple days either side of the peak, so certainly worth a look, especially with the rates increasing.
This from Spaceweather.com -
What's driving the surge? The source of the Geminids is extinct comet 3200 Phaethon. A stream of debris from the comet has been sweeping across Earth's orbit for more than a century, and we are plunging deeper into the stream with each December crossing. Computer models suggest that the Geminids will continue to intensify with meteor rates jumping another 20% to 50% in the decades ahead.
Researchers will be watching the 2009 Geminids to see if the trend does indeed continue. Rates could exceed 140 meteors per hour when the shower peaks on Dec. 13th and 14th
I am staying out near Clifton in SEQ on Saturday night and as there are nice, reasonably dark skies and it is falttish. I am hopeful of seeing some and getting some photos. Which way best to look (ie N/NE/NW) and how high (or low) over the horizon can we expoect them to be?
I am staying out near Clifton in SEQ on Saturday night and as there are nice, reasonably dark skies and it is flattish. I am hopeful of seeing some and getting some photos. Which way best to look (ie N/NE/NW) and how high (or low) over the horizon can we expect them to be?
It's usually best not to look directly at the radiant, but to scan an area about 30 degrees from the radiant. The reason being that any meteors right near the radiant will be short (almost face on) but the further away from the radiant the longer they will be. What I usually do is face in the general direction of the radiant (in this case north) but focus my attention away from it. You will find the meteors all over the sky, some low to the north, some overhead, some moving to the east - they are radiating from the radiant, of course! As for taking photos, pick a nice constellation, like Orion or Taurus, and centre on that, then keep you fingers crossed that one or two go through the field of view.
It's usually best not to look directly at the radiant, but to scan an area about 30 degrees from the radiant. The reason being that any meteors right near the radiant will be short (almost face on) but the further away from the radiant the longer they will be. What I usually do is face in the general direction of the radiant (in this case north) but focus my attention away from it. You will find the meteors all over the sky, some low to the north, some overhead, some moving to the east - they are radiating from the radiant, of course! As for taking photos, pick a nice constellation, like Orion or Taurus, and centre on that, then keep you fingers crossed that one or two go through the field of view.
Hi guys! i am new here! i just read a news article about the Geminids Meteor that is supposedly happening tonight. Can anyone guide me as to how i can watch the shower?
I did some research and found that it's better to be watching at a dark place. I was wondering if it will be better if i just watch it from my house balcony? i stay in the heart of Melbourne City on the 35th floor and i can pretty much see everything (unobstructed views of the skies). Balcony faces east. If not, can any melburnians recommend me a place to watch?
Can someone help? this is my first time. Thank you so much.
Hi There,
Can anyone tell me if I can see the Andromeda Galaxy from Sydney's Northern beaches, or is it too low in the sky ? I've been out a couple of times looking for it but no luck. I have a pair of Celestron 15 x70 binoculars.Thanks very much,Al
so is it mean to peak around 2 am, or is that just a guess? i cant find any solid info on what time!! am eagerly awaiting this...
living on a island off cairns with crystal clear un-interupted views of the skys!!!
read a few sites that said peak for us was from 0200 Monday am, but good views from tonight for 3 nights anyway, enjoy Sid, sounds like a supherb spot to lay back and enjoy!!!
OOh, dont get too excited as meteor showers hava mind of their own, just go and enjoy what you see whether 10 or 50!!
Hi There,
Can anyone tell me if I can see the Andromeda Galaxy from Sydney's Northern beaches, or is it too low in the sky ? I've been out a couple of times looking for it but no luck. I have a pair of Celestron 15 x70 binoculars.Thanks very much,Al
Al, you are caught up in the Geminid Meteor thread ... whether you want to make a new new post??
I can see the Andromeda Galaxy from North Qld, but not sure about Sydney, esp in Sydney lights?? Would very VERY low in the north,if visible at all??
Hi guys! i am new here! i just read a news article about the Geminids Meteor that is supposedly happening tonight. Can anyone guide me as to how i can watch the shower?
I did some research and found that it's better to be watching at a dark place. I was wondering if it will be better if i just watch it from my house balcony? i stay in the heart of Melbourne City on the 35th floor and i can pretty much see everything (unobstructed views of the skies). Balcony faces east. If not, can any melburnians recommend me a place to watch?
Can someone help? this is my first time. Thank you so much.
NSFX ... Not sure what part of Melbourne you are in, but maybe too light??
Perhaps tonight just relax on your balcony and check out the East for a couple of hours and see what you see??
If you are keen, go to a darker site tomorrow night. Its still not 100 % that you will see heaps wherever you are, but give it a try.
Good luck!!
I try and watch meteror showers regularly, and sometimes I barely see the basic 10 per hr, but they are all beautiful.
... have just had a peek outside for 20 minutes and didnt see any!!! Might try later, or leave it for tomorrow night when should be better ... hoping.
Re Geminids from Central Melbourne and Andromeda from Sydney's Northern Beaches. Sorry guys, sky will be too bright. Drive about 100km from the outskirts to get skies dark enough. Sorry.
Be sure to click through to NASA's "fluxtimator" - it's quite an intuitive tool to give you a rough idea of how many meteors to expect (don't forget to set it to 2009).
Right now in Brisbane, the weather is more oppressing/humid than (Far/) North Queensland with the forecast threatening to clash with tonight. Either it will rain, or I'll probably still give it a go with cloud (just like I did for the Leonids last month, which wasn't bad in the end given the circumstances).
*Note to self: One can never carry enough mozzie repellent!*
Last edited by Protiotype; 13-12-2009 at 10:35 AM.
Reason: link added for last month's meteor shower
I did some research and found that it's better to be watching at a dark place. I was wondering if it will be better if i just watch it from my house balcony? i stay in the heart of Melbourne City on the 35th floor and i can pretty much see everything (unobstructed views of the skies). Balcony faces east.
I think being higher could actually worsen views if city/street glare is directly in your eyes - I guess it might also be better than seeing no sky at all if you're walled in on the ground. Currently in the suburbs of Brisbane, I tend to find areas with trees (that block cars/lamps) rather than lookouts.
For what it's worth, Gemini will be near its highest point from the horizon at around 2am (I believe Stellarium takes daylight savings into account, just as the sky map at www.heavens-above.com does) - and much closer to North than East, and 20 degrees above the horizon (measure out an open handspan at arm's length above the horizon). Don't worry if you can't remember every detail exactly, just wear enough insect repellent and look in the general direction for a good length of time while your eyes adapt to the dark.
The meteor flux estimator I alluded to in my previous post should be a good indicator for how many you might be able to see (don't forget to set it to 2009).
