A note from Hertz Fellow Alex Filippenko on how to best see the potential meteor shower May 23/24: Dear astronomy enthusiasts, It is predicted that there may be a new meteor shower *tonight* (May 23/24, 2014) -- debris from Comet 209P/LINEAR. Little bits of ice and rock will fly through Earths atmosphere at a high speed, compressing and heating the air ahead of them, thereby producing streaks of light as they burn up. Roughly 100 meteors per hour could be visible, though predictions vary widely (from 10 to 1000); what you see will depend on many variables, including time and the sky darkness. The radiant of the shower (the location in the sky from which the meteors appear to originate) is the far-northern constellation Camelopardalis (the giraffe or camel leopard). Since this is a new shower, we dont yet know all the details, but the best viewing times should be from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am Pacific Daylight Time, with a predicted peak at 12:20 am PDT. (These times correspond to May 24, 2-5 am EDT, peak at 3:20 am; adjust accordingly for other time zones). Fewer meteors should be visible at other times of the night. North America is favored for the best views. I encourage you to watch the meteor shower. Try to get as far away from city lights as possible. No binoculars or telescopes are needed; just look at the sky with your unaided eyes from as dark a location as possible, with the sky not obscured by buildings or trees. Dress warmly, and bring a hot beverage if you wish. You can lie down on a blanket or a lawn chair for comfort; bring a pillow. Looking anywhere in the sky is fine, but from overhead toward the north (where Camelopardalis is located) might provide the most meteors. Definitely look toward a dark part of the sky (i.e., not toward city glow). Bright moonlight wont be a problem, especially from California. There are many good references with viewing tips, etc., if you use your favorite search engine with the words New meteor shower May 23; see, for example, earthsky.org/tonight/best-times-to-watch-friday-nights-meteor-shower . Have fun, and I hope you have clear skies! Alex
Posted on: Fri, 23 May 2014 19:34:25 +0000
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