PSA: Meteor time

**Timberridge** · 08-06-2018, 02:19 PM

Wear a helmet...

"You know a meteor shower is going to be good when it produces dozens of fireballs a whole week before the shower peaks. Welcome to the Perseids. The best meteor shower of the year peaks Aug. 11th-13th when Earth passes through a stream of debris from giant comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. NASA's network of all-sky meteor cameras is already picking up strong activity over the USA, counting 66 Perseid fireballs during the three day period Aug. 4th-6th. The Perseid meteor shower is always good, but this year it is extra-good. The Moon will be New during the shower's peak, providing a dark backdrop for as many as 100 meteors per hour. The best time to look is during the dark hours before sunrise on Sunday, August 12th, and again on Monday, August 13th. At those times, the shower's radiant will be high in the sky, spewing meteors in all directions. Try looking for Perseids around 10 pm local time when the radiant is hugging the northern horizon. At that time, Perseids skim the top of the atmosphere, producing long colorful fireballs known as "Earthgrazers." You won't see many, but even one can make your day. Enjoy the show! "

**Meathelmet** · 08-06-2018, 03:07 PM

In certain language Perse means ass.

That said, any good apps for spotting satellites as well?
Saw the weirdest thing 2 days ago. Fast, bright and moving with high anglular momentum and weird SE-to-NW path.
Looking up it crossed the Fov of, dunno, 90´ in a minute or two. Seen a share of "Earthgrazers" but this was so damn slow...
Much brighter and faster than ISS (or other satellites I have seen) but definitely not a meteor as it kept its constant brightness all the way.

Aurora(TM)? X-38b? Some satellite coming down, but on that kind of an orbit...?

**riser4** · 08-06-2018, 03:11 PM

This is one of those years that we deserve one big enough to cause an ELE.

**Timberridge** · 08-06-2018, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Meathelmet

That said, any good apps for spotting satellites as well?

https://heavens-above.com/?lat=0&lng...d&alt=0&tz=UCT?

**Meathelmet** · 08-06-2018, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Timberridge

https://heavens-above.com/?lat=0&lng...d&alt=0&tz=UCT?

I´ll be fucking damned. 10/10 similar track.
Cheers! One less mystery, I would say.

Damn, wait. Iridium flares or ISS track?
Does not compute = Retard.

Edit : 4th August, so yes..maybe the Iridium 80.

**Game Over** · 08-06-2018, 03:34 PM

I'm stoked. Hoping for smokeless skies

**TBS** · 08-06-2018, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Meathelmet

In certain language Perse means ass.

That said, any good apps for spotting satellites as well?
Saw the weirdest thing 2 days ago. Fast, bright and moving with high anglular momentum and weird SE-to-NW path.
Looking up it crossed the Fov of, dunno, 90´ in a minute or two. Seen a share of "Earthgrazers" but this was so damn slow...
Much brighter and faster than ISS (or other satellites I have seen) but definitely not a meteor as it kept its constant brightness all the way.

Aurora(TM)? X-38b? Some satellite coming down, but on that kind of an orbit...?

I like Sky Guide https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sky-...576588894?mt=8
It shows satellites as well as stars, planets, meteors etc.
Don't know if they make it for 'droid

Looking forward to the show. Hopefully the wildfire smoke won't fuck up the view this year.

**jono** · 08-06-2018, 08:32 PM

Up late for more earthgrazers. Easy decision.

**The Reverend Floater** · 08-06-2018, 09:56 PM

Speaking of paste eaters.... Anyone have any good recs on an affordable, amatuer telescope?

**cat in january** · 08-07-2018, 08:33 AM

Going to be on the backside of Katahdin. Looking forward to it

edit: just saw above post. If you want affordable make your own. Just need to really like to polish. I would check CL and look for a reflector scope-look down into the mirror rather than a spy scope where you look through the lenses.