Twice in my life I have witnessed meteors break up as they streak across the sky. The most impressive one was near Singleton, NSW, in the 1980's (I was a little kid out with my bigger brother and his 4" SCT for a night of observing). There was even a thunder clap to accompany it after a fair delay. I will never forget it! Quite scary for a 10 year old in the dark in the middle of no where!
Last edited by Gem; 05-05-2011 at 03:44 PM.
Reason: typo
i am new to these forums and recent enthusiast (I wont say amateur as i dont have that much time).
Although, I do look to the sky (perhaps too often) in search of that wonder that will awe me.
Well today I got my awe. i was driving s-s-w from capella to emerald along the gregory highway, with the sun to my left and a crisp autumn sky with few clouds, it was the perfect start to my morning. Imagine a long straight road with nothing but sky and fields in my view.
At approximately 7:15 am, my eye caught a massive flash from out the top of my right window. This 'flash' proceeded into view along the top of my windscreen and trailed across the sky and then below the horizon. Time seemed to slow and my vision was encapsulated by the bright light. I was spellbound. Intial impressions were 'WOW, this is huge!'. Its main body was 3/4 the size of my fist held up to the sky (which eclipsed a local cloud) and its trail was about the size of your thumb held up to the sky. It burned with an effervescence I have never seen in a comet. It was also going extremely fast, my prediction (totally unreliable though) is in the region of 60km/s.
It was still burning as it dipped below the horizon.... Then I remembered i was driving! Thank goodness for straight roads!
This made my day and far oustrips anything I have ever seen in the sky. I cant get it out of my head. Now I am looking for any other information that people can provide on what I saw and why it was so frightning/awe-inspiring.
Just wondering whether this is what I saw or maybe part of a larger object breaking down in our Earths atmosphere. Your 7:15 am would equate to my 5:15 WST ( see my post : http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...214)??????????
What burnt up?
Bartman
That would be amazing if it was the same object travelling from one side of Australia to the other !!! It would have to be a piece of space junk I would think, on a shallow entry angle.
I have seen a website that track these things ?
It was COLD! Lying on the local cricket pitch on a picnic blanket I saw 28 meteors between 4:15 and 5:35am. Mostly faint and quick. 3 or 4 good ones (leaving yellow, glowing trails for a couple of seconds).
Capped off by the 4 planets, of course.
Overall, worth getting up but mildly dissappointed. I was hoping for more bright meteors.
I got up 4ish, and packed up scope and camera stuff and went out in front of house. Tried to find the 2 comets in the east at the moment, but no luck
Settled back on chair to watch for meteors - skies beautifully clear, and weather a chilly 17 dg , but barely a meteor to be seen. Couldnt believe it. think I saw 2 meteors for the hour, one of which wasnt an EA. Took quite a few pics but ended up stopping as no meteors flashing by. Saw many more 2 mornings ago.
Still a great morning with the planets looking speccy. Am working the next 2 mornings (nights) so wont be able to look until Monday, and prob over then.
I surpised myself by going out again this morning for the 3rd and final viewing of the Eta Aquarids. The offer of another person coming out for a look pushed me past my Fatigue from the previous 2 nights.
I was not dissapointed at making the effort with our combined observations between 4:30 and 5:30 am. We saw 38 Eta Aquarids during that time and only 7 sporadics. Unlike yesterday the outbursts we stongly grouped with up to 6 in a burst, but with a steady rate in between.
I enjoyed my viewing sessions, sitting in no more than shorts and a pullover in the cool but comfortable Top End morning weather. (thats why I dont live in Canberra grant ) Its dissapointing you did not get to see many Liz :-(
had a look this morning at around 4.30am and wasn't disappointed seen several quiet bright meteors and one especially stood out it left a trail for a few seconds and went wright through the line of enif that was quiet fascinating to see..then i walked down to the bottom of the block to see the planets quiet a sight with mercury still visible with the sun starting to rise...
I saw quite a few this morning.
Best of all was 2 fireballs, one after another. One heading south, which was really spitting fire, and the next, seconds later, heading north.
Awesome.
Liz, you got one (me thinks) in your first photo. Typically faint and fast, an Eta-Acuarian in it's splendor!
I was at 2C from 8pm to 5am and got nothing, I just can't believe it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liz
Well done Grant.
I got up 4ish, and packed up scope and camera stuff and went out in front of house. Tried to find the 2 comets in the east at the moment, but no luck
Settled back on chair to watch for meteors - skies beautifully clear, and weather a chilly 17 dg , but barely a meteor to be seen. Couldnt believe it. think I saw 2 meteors for the hour, one of which wasnt an EA. Took quite a few pics but ended up stopping as no meteors flashing by. Saw many more 2 mornings ago.
Still a great morning with the planets looking speccy. Am working the next 2 mornings (nights) so wont be able to look until Monday, and prob over then.
I decided I'd have a look this morning, between 3 and 3:30. I counted 6 meteors (one of which could have just been my imagination) and then decided to head back to bed as it was too cold and too early due to fog lingering to the east.
I think I might have another go tomorrow morning, about 4-ish I'm thinking. Hopefully I'll be able to count a few more!
Went to a local dark site this morning, beautiful site to see. Got the expected 60 per hour but only lasted 3/4 hour at that rate. Should have got there earlier.
Its main body was 3/4 the size of my fist held up to the sky (which eclipsed a local cloud) and its trail was about the size of your thumb held up to the sky. It burned with an effervescence I have never seen in a comet. It was also going extremely fast, my prediction (totally unreliable though) is in the region of 60km/s.
, but barely a meteor to be seen. Couldnt believe it. 
think I saw 2 meteors for the hour, one of which wasnt an EA. Took quite a few pics but ended up stopping as no meteors flashing by. Saw many more 2 mornings ago.
