Geminid meteor shower 2006

[fringe_dweller]

Nice report Rob, your rough count matches with some of more favoured latitudes reports I have seen, at least 50 gems an hour, with many brightish ones, was common.

[Chrissyo (Chris)]

I saw about 7 or so meteors last night whilst catching a few avis of Saturn. Some of them were nice long ones too To be honest, I wasn't expecting to see any! I might try some star trail pictures next meteor shower to catch some of them.

[fringe_dweller]

Hey! and I accidentally saw saturn while watching the meteors I was thinking, whats that funny constellation where leo is supposed to be? just as it rose from behind clouds - second time it caught me momentarily this year lol
I had a camera/tripod with me, but was quicly frozen solid by the windchill out there at the time, and was to annoyed from all the driving i'd had to do to just to get under a hole, and the dodgy spot i had to view from talk about grumpy old astronomers!

look forward to some meteor pics from you one day Chrissyo!

[stephenmcnelley]

Yes FD saturn is persistent!

[erick (Eric)]

Meteor shower? What meteor shower?? I saw nothin'

Forecast - mostly clear for half the night, wind 8km/hr, 14 deg C.

I set up at my dark sky spot, did a bit of looking around waiting for the radiant to rise. Light cloud passing by most of the time. Had my last (I think) look at Andromeda for the year. Wind chill - Ouch! - and 20x80s bouncing around in the breeze. Couple of meteors spotted from the corner of my eye.

Then a visit from the local law enforcement officers. Happy as long as I wasn't lighting fires! Nothing like a police searchlight to destroy one's night vision!

Settled back as the radiant rose. And watched, and watched - for 30 min, no meteors - then the cloud rolled in and that was that!

Not all a waste, however. Saturn rose under the cloud line and I saw it through my 20x80s for the first time. If I didn't know what the rings looked like, I'd be as confused as Galileo! But I could make out the abnormal shape and imagine what I was seeing. I look forward to seeing Saturn again under better conditions.

Better luck next meteor shower.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I had the scope out to show hubby a few DSO's, but after spotting about 8 meteors in fairly quick succession, we just spread out the tarp instead and enjoyed the show.
Knew it had to be a shower but didn't know which one.

[fringe_dweller]

Originally Posted by erick

Meteor shower? What meteor shower?? I saw nothin'

Forecast - mostly clear for half the night, wind 8km/hr, 14 deg C.

I set up at my dark sky spot, did a bit of looking around waiting for the radiant to rise. Light cloud passing by most of the time. Had my last (I think) look at Andromeda for the year. Wind chill - Ouch! - and 20x80s bouncing around in the breeze. Couple of meteors spotted from the corner of my eye.

Then a visit from the local law enforcement officers. Happy as long as I wasn't lighting fires! Nothing like a police searchlight to destroy one's night vision!

Settled back as the radiant rose. And watched, and watched - for 30 min, no meteors - then the cloud rolled in and that was that!

Not all a waste, however. Saturn rose under the cloud line and I saw it through my 20x80s for the first time. If I didn't know what the rings looked like, I'd be as confused as Galileo! But I could make out the abnormal shape and imagine what I was seeing. I look forward to seeing Saturn again under better conditions.

Better luck next meteor shower.

LOL Erick, wow! a run-in with the law whilst hiding in the dark bushes observing a mysterious non-existant meteor shower with a pair of extremely large Binoculars in hand, how did that go down? cool you got a great story out of it at least

I dont know if this is any consolation mate but seeing nothing is as scientifically important as seeing something!
I did read one other similar report from the US, with similar title thread to yours - something like 'Geminids, Ha! - they shut down fast didnt they!! - we need more showers like the recent Orionids, went for three or four days! some great pics/avi of it from Avandonk in here.

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I had the scope out to show hubby a few DSO's, but after spotting about 8 meteors in fairly quick succession, we just spread out the tarp instead and enjoyed the show.
Knew it had to be a shower but didn't know which one.

well there's two contrasting experiences! sounds like it was a great night JJJ!!
cheers