meteor shower

Gordon, very sorry to hear about the DSLR -- ouch! We were in Yosemite all week -- very cold -- and cloudy on Monday and Tuesday. No meteors for us. Someday I will see the Geminids . . . .

Didn't have clear skies Sunday or Monday. Tuesday was clear but I wasn't man enough to be outside... Capital Reef, was about 8 deg F around midnight (moon set).

Wednesday clear skies as well, about 4 deg F at Kodachrome. I left the DSLR out snapping pics, not sure if I pointed it in the right direction. Despite being wrapped with a hot pad set to low, the LCD screen suffered damage, some of it went away after warming up, some looks permanent. Left the GoPro Hero4 out but the **** thing locked up after only a few dozen pictures, guess it didnt like the cold either.

vermilye wrote:
I got back to Quartzsite Sunday, and managed to catch a few meteors before the clouds moved in & the rain started. I don't know about tonight - while clear this morning, the clouds are moving in again...

It was super clear in Casa Grande,as long as you didn't look north,lights of Phoenix,saw about 10 but then got cold and lit the fire,figured i'd ruined my night visionwhen I spotted a flamer coming out of Orion headed towards Jupitor
Saw twice the meteors I did when I was in Grand Canyon in Aug

I got back to Quartzsite Sunday, and managed to catch a few meteors before the clouds moved in & the rain started. I don't know about tonight - while clear this morning, the clouds are moving in again...

will view from my backyard after the game.Cold front came in and sky is crystal clear,so decided not to go to Q
Between the campfire in a can,sleeping bag and hot drink should be ok

The meteors are supposed to be good on both Sunday night and Monday night. We won't see them -- there are no clear skies near us. So as a consolation prize, we are heading off to Yosemite for some snowshoeing, hopefully.

And Gordon, last year at Kodachrome Basin (a state park with hookups), we used electric blankets under sleeping bags to watch the Leonid shower (which was ok but not spectacular). But we were nice and warm, even though it was nine degrees (!) and breezy while we were sitting outside. So if you have an electric blanket and enough power to run it, you are in business -- good luck!

Forecast for Dead Horse shows clear tonight, somewhat clear tomorrow and clear but rather cold Tuesday night.

Glad we got a dusting of snow last night, it cleared the air a little - although smog and dust is filling back in quickly :(

If you're already gonna be out in the RV during a meteor shower that's great, keep your eyes to the sky but...I won't plan trips around them.

We're experienced amateur astronomers and learned a long time ago not to put too much stock in anything ANYONE has to say in regard to the predicted intensity of any meteor shower. Yes, a dark location and moonless night helps but beyond that it's pretty much hit or miss.

I schedule the "Dark Sky Star Parties" and most public outreach events for our astronomy club and I just don't even try to schedule events around meteor showers anymore. If there happens to be meteor shower on the weekend nearest the new moon when we hold an event, that's great, and an added bonus, but I don't schedule anything around them. We have a public outreach event scheduled for the night December 12 but no overnight dark sky star party this month since we try to take hiatus in December to give members more time to get ready for the holidays with family.

We did have a wonderful treat during our November 7 star party. In addition to being at a dark sky site, we were treated to a pretty steady stream of Taurid fireballs PLUS, we got to see the much publicized Trident missile launch from the USS Kentucky from very dark skies. We could follow the vehicle long after it left the rocket plume.

I often take phone calls from the public inquiring as to whether or not we're going to have and event for a meteor shower, and I just have to tell that they're too unpredictable to really put on the schedule. I will, and based on where they live, try to direct them to nearby dark sky sites where they MIGHT get a good show.

Gordon, I've read that unlike most meteor showers, this one should be good from dark till dawn -- so if you can't get out at three in the morning, after dinner should be ok, too. And the same sources say this is the best meteor shower of the year -- the only problem is that it is usually cold in mid-December, so not that many people can really stay out and enjoy it.

No need for binoculars, by the way. Just have a seat and lean back and look up!