Sometimes I get frustrated with the internet. A few weeks ago, I noted a story about the November 18, 2006 Leonid meteor showers. Sounds like they will be really cool this year. If we can see them...
GN-Leonids-2001 by Kirk Puuohau-Pummill
From Space.com: Strong Leonid Meteor Shower Expected Nov. 18:
If you live in Western Europe or eastern North America, put a big circle on your calendar around Saturday, Nov. 18. If that night is clear, bundle up warmly and head outside because you may be able to catch a glimpse of an intense, albeit brief display of Leonid meteors.
The Leonids are composed of the dusty debris that has been shed by the comet Temple-Tuttle, a small celestial body that orbits the Sun at 33-year intervals. In those years during and then for several years after the comet has swept through the inner solar system, it has had a propensity for producing spectacular meteor displays; meteors falling by the hundreds, if not thousands per hour.
These "shooting stars" all apparently emanate from the constellation of Leo, the Lion. Hence the name "Leonids."
Great! The article also adds that meteor watching is easy: forget about binoculars or telescopes, just go to the darkest place you can with a clear view of the eastern horizon and look up. I can do that! Now one question: Is Michigan in that eastern part where they can be seen or the central part where they can't?
At various other sites I learned...
- It's impossible to see the Leonids before 9:30 PM and hard to see them even before 11 (after midnight is the best)
- The Leonids are the fastest meteors of every shower because they come straight at us and that they leave long-lasting trails.
- There's a new moon then so viewing will be perfect. Somewhere.
- The Leonids are an annual meteor shower. However, there will be no Leonids at all in either 2033 or 2066.
- Although the peak is Nov. 18, you can see some meteors between Nov. 13-20.
- The University of Michigan Lowbrow Astronomers had a couple of member-written articles. I'm mostly noting them down here for a future feature.
I did finally think to "surf local" and found an article called The Meteoric Gales of November by northern Michigan astronomer and radio program Ephemeris host Bob Moler.
Nov. 18. Leonid Meteor Shower. At 11:45 p.m. the earth is calculated to pass through the debris trail of Comet Tempel-Tuttle's 1932 passage near the sun. Comets shed material when they pass close to the sun. This comet's orbit passes very close to the earth. From Northern Michigan the radiant point, from which the meteors will seem to come will have just risen in the east.
Since northern lower Michigan is pretty far west, I assume that most of the state will be able to see the shower. I'll email Bob and ask him! I guess I should have looked there first. Of course then I wouldn't have found out about the 2033 and 2066 thing.
I should also note that the photos are from Calgary, CA and Mauna Kea Gemini. I couldn't find and Michigan photos and when you're dealing with a space-based phenomena, it seems that Alberta or Hawaii might be close enough. SPACE.com did say they will provide a detailed viewer's guide to the 2006 Leonid meteor shower on Nov. 17. I'm really hoping some astronomy buff can answer it sooner for me in the comments!
21 Comments
Do You know of any local star gazing groups that are hosting meteor watching nights? I went to one several years ago & it was wonderful, but I can't find any info this year. I am in the Royal Oak area. THANKS
Andi, here are some links for you....
http://www.umich.edu/~lowbrows/calendar/
http://www.oakac.org/oac/
I live in Hawaii. I am wondering if I will be able to see the Leonid from here!? Please let me know asap.
Mahalo!
Amanda
Check prior post**^^
Hi Amanda. Sadly, you will NOT be able to see them. Michigan is at the far west of a viewing area that begins in the UK.
Kind of of a bummer for you ... then again, you DO live in Hawaii, so it's not all bad!! Mahalo!
i was wondering if anyone in the ann arbor area was able to see the leonids? i went out around 2am but it seemed pretty cloudy ... just curious ... thanks!
The Leonids peak tonight (Saturday, Nov 18). Sorry if I had anyone out late last night!
hmm i live in detroit and am planning on goin on a date tonite...this would be a nice end.
whats a good place in southeast michigan to go for this?
are there any "spots"?
A hill (or building) with a view to the east would be ideal. You'd also want the eastern horizon to be as light free as possible.
I am not at all familiar with Detroit, but the parks on this map could be good spots (Alfred Brush Ford Park, Matthew C Patterson Park). Also farther NE is Municpal Pier in Gross Pointe.
thanks.
im guessing anywhere in detroit wouldnt be good, too much light. so i was thinking of heading up north up by grosse pointe and st clair shores. just not familiar with the parks and dont know if theyll be accessible at midnight.
anyone know if the cloudy/possible late showers will ruin the chance to see this?
will i wind up driving up there and seeing nothing but clouds or will it be visible through the clouds?
FYI, while the Leonids peaked Saturday night, they are still visible from 11 pmish on!!
please tell me if there will be a meteor showers in te month of august 2007!
There were meteor showers on august 12/13 2007.
They peeked around 3am, I missed them.
Great site for space info is
http://www.spaceweather.com
I am trusting you are well-informed and can help define what I saw in Fremont, Michigan probably during late May or June of most likely 1994, maybe 95. I was in my back yard late, must have been after 10pm, before 2am. Facing east, I saw what was the size of a full moon racing across the tree tops from north to south at a slight decline, maybe 10-15 degrees. It seemed to appear from nowhere and took about 2-3 seconds to pass across the entire sky and I wondered if it just went by the earth or if it landed somewhere as it seemed so very very close; it was huge, glowing bright almost white with a tail maybe 2 or 3 times it's diameter that seemed to be red with disintegrating red cinders in it as well. I did not notice any noise. I was quite awe-struck. I was about 50 or 52 at the time and have never seen anything like it before or since. I assumed it was a meteor or comet. I did not have access to TV or Newspaper but did ask around receiving no other confirmation. Would you be able to confirm it; could you direct me to someone who would know? Thanks.
Well Hanya, I don't know if you can trust me to be well informed but I have a very clear memory of seeing almost exactly the same thing in the mid 70s when I was 10 or 11. I looked once to see if I could find any corroboration but never found anything.
Does anyone have any information on a meteor sighting or shower north of Rose City Michigan in the 1890s.
Hey guys I live in Michigan, do any of you guys know if I've missed the shower? Have any of you seen it yet? Because I'm keeping an eye on it but I can't see it yet.
The 2009 Leonids will be in November. Here's what NASA has to say:
I live in West Bloomfield, MI and I'm going to look now!
I guess I'm looking east?
i'm the one from west bloomfield... i went out and looked a few times randomly and i seen about 2-3 of them total.. but its kind of boring to stand out there in the cold looking up for 5 min straight lol they were more like quick bursts like a "shooting star" (which is what i expected) they didnt linger much or anything
Yeah - they weren't fantastic this year. I saw a few ... not sure if getting up at 4 AM was worth it tho!
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