by VirtualAstro | Aug 1, 2014
The Perseid Meteor Shower 2014
The Perseid Meteor Shower Image Credit :- Astronomy Picture of the Day
The Perseids are one of the most prolific and best-known of the meteor showers and the Perseid Meteor Shower can be seen in late July and through August each year, with the maximum Perseid meteor activity on or around 12/13 August. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Aug 8, 2013
Perseid Meteorwatch – Saturday 10th to Monday 12th of August 2013
Artists Illustration of perseid Meteors Credit: Meteorwatch
The Perseid meteorwatch 2013
The Perseid meteorwatch 2013 starts on Saturday 10th and runs each evening until Monday 12th of August 2013 @VirtualAstro with the help of many more people, will be holding a Twitter #Meteorwatch for the Perseid Meteor Shower.
Everyone is welcome to join in, whether they are an astronomer, have a slight interest in the night sky or have a passing interest and just wonder?
The Perseids are the highlight of the astronomical calendar and a must see! They are ideal for those who want to see a meteor/ shooting star for the first time.
(more…)
by VirtualAstro | Jul 28, 2013
UK ISS Pass details for August 2013
Long Exposure photo of a visible ISS pass Credit: Mark Humpage
The International Space Station (ISS) is back over UK skies with some great passes during August 2013. There is a special bonus this time as the passes take place during the Perseid Meteor Shower – you may see shooting stars too!
The ISS is the largest Space Station/ laboratory ever built orbiting the Earth, it can be spotted with the naked eye at certain times as it orbits the planet at 17500mph at an altitude of roughly 200 miles.
Spotting the station is very easy and you don’t need any special equipment, only your eyes. (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Aug 10, 2012
A bright fireball meteor on August 1, 2012. Credit: John Chumack.
Originally posted on Universetoday by Virtualastro
This will probably be the most simple and easiest guide to viewing the Perseids and other meteor showers you may possibly ever read. The reason why it is so simple is when you are outside you want to concentrate on looking for meteors and not worrying about technical details, which are unnecessary for the casual observer.
First, a LITTLE about the Perseids: (more…)
by VirtualAstro | Aug 10, 2012
Long Exposure photo of a visible ISS pass Credit: Mark Humpage
Please see:
It’s meteorwatch and as well as shooting stars from the Perseid meteor shower, we can see some excellent International Space Station (ISS) passes alongside the celestial fireworks. (more…)
by Astroguyz David Dickinsen | Aug 10, 2012
Doubtless you’ve heard astronomers and meteor shower observers kick around terms such as “bolide,” “sporadic” and “Zenithal Hourly Rate” when it comes to showers like this weekend’s Perseids. Like any field of endeavor, these terms and phrases and help to describe what we see (or expect to see) and aren’t just designed to make us unpopular at cocktail parties. Here’s a quick rundown on terms that should be in your meteor watcher’s lexicon; use em’ to impress (or annoy) your friends while you watch for this weekend’s Perseids; (more…)