Tuesday, January 1, 2013
The first meteor shower of 2013 begins Tuesday over the skies of Braintree.
The Quadrantid meteor shower is named for an extinct constellation, but the shooting stars that seem to sprout from it still arrive yearly, and the opening of the 2013 show will begin overnight Jan. 1 into Jan. 2. The Quadrantids is one of the lesser-known meteor showers of the year, but that doesn't mean it's anything less than spectacular. Take a look at this Quadrantids meteor shower video or these pictures of the Quadrantids. While the shower begins overnight on the first day of the new year, NASA tells us Quadrantid meteor shower peaks in the wee morning hours of Jan. 4: "[T]he Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 100 per hour, varying between 60-200. The waxing gibbous moon will set around 3 a.m. local time, leaving about two …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
EarthSky.org is saying that because there will be no moon, 2012 will be a great year to see this meteor shower.
The final major meteor shower of the year, the Geminid meteor shower 2012, will peak overnight on Thursday, Dec. 13 into Friday morning and if you are willing to stay up late you should be able to see a great show. NASA reports that the Geminids is a relatively young meteor shower, with the first sightings occurring in the 1830s with rates of about 20 per hour. Over time the rate of visible meteors has increased and now viewers can expect to see 80 and 120 meteors per hour at its peak. Earthsky.org reports viewers can begin to watch the Geminids starting at 9 or 10 p.m. on Thursday. The peak will likely be between 1 to 3 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. That’s when the shower’s radiant point is highest in the sky as seen around the world. "With …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Look to the skies for some stunning light displays this November and December.
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Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Astronomers anticipate two meteor showers this November and December. So be sure to get far enough outside of the city to see these natural wonders. Nov. 17: Leonid Meteor Shower Dec. 13: Geminid Meteor Shower Be sure to schedule a night this season to bundle up, lay out some blankets (if it's dry) and enjoy the light show in the sky. Share your tips for photographing the showers. Tell us your favorite places to sneak off to view the skies.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Viewers should be able to observe around 80 "shooting stars" per hour during this year's Perseid Meteor Shower.
The skies over Brookline are going to light up this weekend. According to Astronomy.com, the Perseid Meteor shower has some added bonuses this year: It will occur on a night when the moon is in its waning crescent phase, which means the moonlight won't interfere with your view of the dashing meteors, and it's on a Saturday night, which means people can stay up late and sleep in the next day. You don't even need a telescope. Just spread out a blanket, maybe a late-night picnic, lay back and enjoy! Perseid Meteor Trivia: Where to view: If you snap a great photo of the shower, upload it to our photo gallery!
