Perseid anyone?

Totally clouded over in Chicago at 1am right now.

 

It was totally clouded over here in the NE of England, hopefully better conditions tonight.

 

IFR.

Not even going to try tonight unless I get called out at oh-dark-thirty....

 

I set the alarm for 1am, we woke up and stumbled out to the back yard for a look. Far from ideal suburban light pollution, one streetlight lighting up a section of our fence.

Could have used a recliner, missus had one: it gets hard on the neck, lol. Anyway, think we spotted one every 3~5 minutes, some quick-and-short, some more impressive.

Pretty cool, trying to appreciate what's actually happening, cool planet we all hang out on.

 

It is amazing, to think that particles of sand-to-peanut sizes are bringing enough kinetic E that we can see them incandesce from here, 100 km below.

My best sightings were Leonids (November) that skipped off and reentered (interrupted trails), a long green persistent trail (>kg size class), and a sighting followed by sound 1 minute later. That last would be in the low end of the 'ohshit' size class.

I don't think any of the named, recurrent meteor showers contain big pieces. Would appreciate more info on the subject

 

Every year I say that NEXT year I'm going to make a diligent effort to get out of the suburbs and find a good place to view this shower.
And every year I read or hear about it's arrival, and find an excuse to be asleep.

Missed it again this year.
BUT NEXT year....I'm on it.....

 

Impacts have been observed on the moon:

Record-Breaking Meteorite Crash on Moon Sparks Brightest Lunar Explosion Ever

for example, but not clearly linked to meteor showers. Again the latter are mostly smaller shreddings of comets.

The moon is such an odd place. ~No atmosphere, stopped weeping basalt a few billion ago. Since all that, surface reworking by an ~endless stream of impacts. Most of the large craters were during Late Heavy Bombardment as I recall.

 

Good thing I know 'shower' is a relative term when it comes to meteors. Still, it's a fascinating and thought-provoking event, and I make an effort most years to get out. This year, we'd driven a couple fo hours out of town to a small resort community, and I found a great watching spot at the end of a dock. I had my big comfy camp chair, water, food...too bad it was such a long walk to the bathroom, but otherwise it was a great evening. As soon as the music from a local pub died down, all was quiet....until the party joined me at the end of the dock. I had little choice but to go with the flow, and despite my quiet private space being invaded by a bunch of rowdy, inevriated kids, it was great fun. I got to teach a few newbies a few things (Where's the little dipper? I can never find that...) and, we even saw some good meteors.

Next year, I think a boat in the middle of a small mountian lake might be a good viewing platform.