|  Author | Topic: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue (Read 884 times) |
stevie
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|  | Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Thread Started on Aug 8, 2010, 6:54pm » | |
The annual NIAAS Perseid meteor watch and barbecue will be held at Killylane on Friday August 13th, starting at around 9.30pm. With no Moon in the sky, this could be an especially good year.
The early weather forecasts are mixed, so we will have to wait until later in the week to see what conditions will be like. A final decision will be taken on the Friday, at around 6.00pm. Unless it is heavily overcast, or raining, we will probably go ahead, as the crack is always good.
If Friday looks bad, but Thursday night looks ok, we may have a session then. The absolute maximum activity, for observing purposes, is early in the morning of the 13th, if anyone feels up to it. Keep an eye on this thread for up-to-date reports.
As always, bring your own food and drink, cooking facilities will be provided.
There's no need to bring any equipment, as meteors are best seen with the naked eye, although no doubt, there will be a couple of telescopes set up for other viewing, especially Jupiter. Some people like to try and photograph the meteors, so feel free to try that if you wish.
Make sure to wrap up warm, and bring along a reclining chair or sun lounger for comfort if desired. There is always scientific interest in the shower, so if anyone wants to bring along pens and paper, or an electronic counter, to record their observations, feel free to do so.
Don't forget to have a look outside during this week, there are usually early meteors to be seen in the build up to to the main shower, Jonathan, Neil and I saw a few last night.
For more information on the Perseids meteor shower, and tips on how to identify Perseid meteors, see this link
http://www.astronomynow.com/AstronomyNow-TheNightSkyThisWeek.shtml
and for a short report by Phil on last years watch, click on the article at top left of the home page.
Hope to see you all there.
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Phil
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stevie
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #2 on Aug 12, 2010, 5:32pm » | |
It's looking pretty good for Friday night, so, as of now, the barbecue and meteor watching session is most definitely on.
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ian
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #3 on Aug 12, 2010, 10:46pm » | |
Thats great Stevie. I've just been outside for about half an hour and saw a few. If its as clear tomorrow night it will be great...
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simon128d
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #4 on Aug 13, 2010, 9:32am » | |
Yes I just looked at all the weather data and tonight isn't looking to bad. There are chances of some light cloud to be around but during the night there should be several clear spells.
Tomorrow night is looking perfect with excellent clear skies from sunset to early morning so this will be my first hardcore - all nighter - session of the new seasion for me at Bragan.
The only aspect of this I can find little data on is wind speed. I am not sure how the wind will be for tonight and tomorrow but making my own assumptions from the pressure charts it should be light.
I think you can expect me to be there tonight.
Now time for me to get my work done and then head of to my favourite butchers for some high quality mince to make my own burgers 
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stevie
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #5 on Aug 13, 2010, 5:03pm » | |
The gate to the main car park was open again last night, so I think we should just head on up to that car park.
The wife and I were up in Killy last night, between midnight and 1.15am. She counted 14 meteors, I counted 13. Two left visible trails behind them. I also saw another two bright ones while driving home.
It started to cloud over a bit after 1.00am, but, up to then, it was a lovely night, nice and dry, bit breezy, and no dew forming on the car windows. M31 was visible with the naked eye, as was the double cluster. The Milky Way could be seen down as far as Altair in one direction, and down below Cassiopeia in the other. Even the light pollution was not as bad as usual.
Looks even better tonight, so, see you all there.
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simon128d
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #6 on Aug 14, 2010, 12:29am » | |
I had a fun night. Not as many perseids as I was hoping for but it was a lovely change to lie back and just stare at the stars.
The food was good, as was the company.
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stevie
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #7 on Aug 14, 2010, 12:32pm » | |
Thanks to everybody who turned up last night, on my count there were 13 in total. It was good to see Andy and Davey again, and Emma and her husband were first time visitors. Also good to see Simon and his brother paying a rare visit up to Killylane. The food was excellent, and the crack mighty.
I didn't see too many meteors. There were a couple of pretty bright one's, both of which were heading in the general direction of Jupiter. Judging by the ooh's and aah's and wow's, Neil and Jonathan probably saw the most over the course of the night. Hopefully they should report on their totals later.
Conditions deteriorated as time went on, with thin cloud spread around, although the skies never completely clouded over, and the area around Altair remained clear all night. We ended up by everyone having a look at Uranus and Jupiter in the telescope, and the last of us left Killylane at 1.15am.
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irishbloke
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| | Re: Perseids meteor watch and barbecue
« Reply #8 on Aug 15, 2010, 8:20pm » | |
I, like Stevie with his wife, was out romancing my wife on Thrusday night in a dark place under the falling stars. 
I picked Nendrum out on Strngford lough as I was depressed by the cloud in the lagan valley and from satellete pictures judged there'd be less cloud to the East. It turned out to be a fantastic night, with very clear skies and stacks of meteors.
I was amazed at how clear it was and could clearly make out the double cluster and andromeda galxey with naked eye. I even managed to make out Uranus with avert vision. I'd been looking at it last Sat so knew were it was came back to check on stellarium. Jupiter and the 2 stars below it were my guide.
That was my first meteor shower watch and it was fantastic with many bright ones and a few coloured ones being seen. We were out from about 11 till 12:40am and really enjoyed the spectical but both had work to go to in morning.
Friday night I had to give up the club barbeque for an in-laws neighbour/ watch. Not that i was watching them but at the same site again watching the show.
The sky didn't get any where near as clear as the previous night but we saw plenty of meteors agian. This time i'd brought the scope and had a play.
What I've learnt for furture meteor watches:
1. Airbed is the ticket.
2. Wrap up warm whatever the temperature.
3. book the next day off work!
I'm glad you's had a good night.
Brian
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