Look Out Of Your Window Now! Astronomical events.

[db]

what's this i hear about some meteor shower at the end of august? will it be impressive via the miracle of The Human Eye™?

 

[Gramaisc]

Perseids. They can be quite OK, but the levels of light pollution around here won't help..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids

I stayed up all night once, in Cyprus, to watch them, and that was well worth it.

 

[Withnail]

Also, and quite typically, forecast for Sat pm/ Sun am -

 

[Gramaisc]

A bit hazy, but there should be a fairly bright pass of the ISS at twenty five to twelve. http://iss.astroviewer.net/observation.php It'll be mostly in the Western half of the sky, passing into the Earth's shadow as it moves almost overhead.

Some more good ones in the next few days, too.

 

[ChrisLewis]

Just had my first view of the ISS, lovely clear night out here in Sandon and less light pollution, thanks Gramaisc for the heads up on this.

 

[Gramaisc]

Just had my first view of the ISS, lovely clear night out here in Sandon and less light pollution, thanks Gramaisc for the heads up on this.

Should be even better tomorrow - check out that Astroviewer site - and you may need to set your own location in it, then it'll give good info for future viewing possibilities.

 

[Gramaisc]

Should be a good ISS pass just after half past ten tonight - http://iss.astroviewer.net/observation.php - and it's looking like fairly clear viewing conditions at the moment, at least.

 

[Gramaisc]

Well, that was a good one, but the one at twenty to ten tomorrow night could be even better - if it stays clear..

 

[Gramaisc]

Quick! Dramatically underlit clouds to the North West.

 

[age'd parent]

Red sky at night, Aged parents delight!

 

[Gramaisc]

Lovely view of the Moon tonight - as Neil Armstrong's memorial service is held at the U.S Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama..

 

[Gramaisc]

Vulcan!

Not likely to be seen in the air many more times... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-19926464

 

[age'd parent]

I was driving past the RAF camp in a van when that flew over me many years ago, on an open day, to say I was impressed would be an understatement, wet underpants and a screaming woman next to me would be more like it, there is nothing like being under one of them, as it flies over you at about 100 feet, your whole body feels it.

 

[Gramaisc]

The Geminids will be visible over the next few nights - the early hours will be best for viewing..

Cloud cover permitting, of course..

 

[John Marwood]

The Geminids will be visible over the next few nights - the early hours will be best for viewing..

Cloud cover permitting, of course..

 

[Withnail]

Cloud cover permitting, of course..

Or rather fog permitting, which it looks likely not to.

Jupiter and bits of Taurus are still visible, which is in the right general direction, but i don't hold much hope of it lasting.

 

[Withnail]

Gemini has risen into the out-of-the-fog zone now, but is very dim - having high hopes i am not.

Quite apart from anything else it is almost impossible to stand outside longer than a couple of minutes without wussing out completely - though at a supposed/predicted 120 per hour you'd still be hoping to see at least one of them.

 

[Gramaisc]

I'm not sure that you could expect to see all 120 in such heavily lit skies as we have round here, even in clearer conditions...

 

[Withnail]

Well quite - we are surrounded by orange fog.

Most people only notice it when there is actually some fog to reflect the oranginess.

 

[Withnail]

The Geminids will be visible over the next few nights - the early hours will be best for viewing..

Cloud cover permitting, of course..

Well the sky has cleared, Gemini is very much up, and though it may have passed it's peak i've just seen a belter.