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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGreat news for insomniacs tonight - this is it - last big meteor shower of the year....
http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guideGeminids - but they could be enhanced by a new shower to bring the total to 120 or more per hour!
http://earthsky.org/space/new-meteor-shower-might-coincide-with-2012-geminids
"Weve had lots of reports of meteors this week, and most are probably part of the Geminid meteor shower, scheduled to peak late night December 13 to dawn December 14 as seen from around the globe. But NASA is saying theres a second possible meteor shower that could significantly boost the number of meteors youll see. The source of the possible new shower is Comet 46P/Wirtanen. Bill Cooke of NASAs Meteoroid Environment Office says debris left in Wirtanens orbit might produce as many as 30 meteors per hour, added to the 100 meteors per hour from the Geminids. That would be an awesome meteor show!
Why do scientists think a new meteor shower might coincide with the Geminids? Meteors in annual showers stem from debris left behind by comets. The cometary debris in space moves in streams, which are called meteoroid streams. Russian meteor forecaster Mikhail Maslov used computer models to predict as many as four meteoroid stream crossings in other words, four crossings of streams of debris left behind by Comet Wirtanen between December 10 and 14, 2012. If Earth does encounter this debris from Wirtanen, as predicted by Mikhail Maslov, the debris will enter our atmosphere and vaporize due to friction with the air. We on Earth will see meteors, or shooting stars."
snip
I am pondering heading out after midnight to see what I can see.....any other intrepid meteor shower watchers, post what you see in this thread! I will provide an update on what I observe....
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Great news for insomniacs tonight - this is it - last big meteor shower of the year.... (Original Post)
NRaleighLiberal
Dec 2012
OP
Kicking - am heading outside and driving to a nearby lake in an hour or so....
NRaleighLiberal
Dec 2012
#4
riverbendviewgal
(4,253 posts)1. thanks
I will try to see it.
Viva_La_Revolution
(28,791 posts)2. socked in with clouds and rain
PNW is NOT the best area for viewing
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)3. I saw two really big ones last night
And I didn't even have to be an insomniac. First time it happened within my waking time with a clear sky.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,015 posts)4. Kicking - am heading outside and driving to a nearby lake in an hour or so....
Some videos on the NASA site captured last night
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?collection_id=17338&media_id=156979391
Also a live chat area with NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2012.html
NRaleighLiberal
(60,015 posts)5. Just spent some time viewing the shower - brief report linked below