Perseid Meteor Shower Disappointment
Last night was supposed to the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. Unfortunately, best viewing was forecast to be cut off early, because moonrise was not long after midnight. We went out anyway, hoping to get something, and knowing that skies in our area are anything but dark, even after driving miles from the city.
So...while the adventure was fun, the results were disappointing. The combination of light pollution and "heavy air' (high humidity) rendered my shots of the sky more like blue hour landscapes. Even reducing exposure (eventually by three and a half stops) tamed the noise, but rendered only the three or four brightest stars visible, which would not have bode well for meteors, most of which are of only very marginal brightness. The Milky Way was not visible, even though it was in a darker area of the sky.
So...we have marked in the "book" that any night sky work is going to require more travel, and we are considering an excursion next year to a true dark sky site. We will try for scheduling during one of the several meteor showers.
I hope that others who were discussing their plans had better results and will perhaps share them with us, either here or in the gallery.
Cloudy skies and rain off and on here in South Georgia. Disappointed.
as an avid amateur astronomer meteor shows are disapointing. First must be way after midnight in dark semi dark skies. look for showers around new moon.
This is why I stopped trying. It was easy to remember the date because it's our wedding anniversary, but the Perseids never cooperated.
Somewhat related - Do you know why the Subaru company has that name? It was named after the Pleiades star cluster. That's why the star configuration is the Subaru logo, and that's why the Japanese telescope on Hawaii is called the Subaru Telescope.
I am glad I wasn't the only one disappointed. I was in Oriental, NC and the skies were clear. I did see a few meteors, but there wasn't a meteor shower. The area I was in had a dark sky and looking in the right direction and time, but I was disappointed.
We live just outside of Detroit, and while the city lights are a distraction, we did see several at around 4:30AM. I saw two, and the wife saw four. We did have some spotty clouds, but they passed quickly.
Not spectacular, but still nice to see.
the Subaru company was formed from 7 companies merging and named after the 7 sisters, the Pleiades. 2 companies merged so one star bigger and now total of 6 stars on logo.
I went out 2 times, once at 3am August 11th, was a fail, didn't see a single one. Went out 11pm-past midnight August 11th, over a 2 hour period saw maybe 10!!Clear skies both times. VERY disappointing after all the talk about 40 or more an hour, one article said 100 per hour. I did see the Milky Way, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter so not a total waste!! I was in rural ND, only lights are farm lights and all the dang towers with flashing lights.The coyotes were howling too.
Meteor showers are from old comet debris and can vary a lot from time to time even with the best of luck. There is one in Nov. which was spectacular late last century and produced 1000's per hours I believe in the early 1800's. Earth's path and such can make a big difference, i.e., may have been good in Europe or Australia. Here in mountains of MD many stars out at 1:30, milky sky due to humidity, saw nothing as with others. Trying to see astronomical events unfortunately teaches more about how often it is cloudy at night. The southwest, Arizonia and NM is one of few really great places for astronomy occuring to the magazines.
larryepage wrote:
Last night was supposed to the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. Unfortunately, best viewing was forecast to be cut off early, because moonrise was not long after midnight. We went out anyway, hoping to get something, and knowing that skies in our area are anything but dark, even after driving miles from the city.
So...while the adventure was fun, the results were disappointing. The combination of light pollution and "heavy air' (high humidity) rendered my shots of the sky more like blue hour landscapes. Even reducing exposure (eventually by three and a half stops) tamed the noise, but rendered only the three or four brightest stars visible, which would not have bode well for meteors, most of which are of only very marginal brightness. The Milky Way was not visible, even though it was in a darker area of the sky.
So...we have marked in the "book" that any night sky work is going to require more travel, and we are considering an excursion next year to a true dark sky site. We will try for scheduling during one of the several meteor showers.
I hope that others who were discussing their plans had better results and will perhaps share them with us, either here or in the gallery.
Last night was supposed to the peak of the annual ... (
show quote)
I went out last night and the night before. I saw one normal shooting star each night. Last night it was just below and out of composition. Millions of stars with clear skies captured no meteors. so I just played around did some light painting and stuff got nothing worth bragging about. This was my first attempt, may be my last.
Ya’ll didn’t get the memo? The meteor shower was cancelled due to COVID. It will return next year. 😳🤣
larryepage wrote:
Last night was supposed to the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. Unfortunately, best viewing was forecast to be cut off early, because moonrise was not long after midnight. We went out anyway, hoping to get something, and knowing that skies in our area are anything but dark, even after driving miles from the city.
So...while the adventure was fun, the results were disappointing. The combination of light pollution and "heavy air' (high humidity) rendered my shots of the sky more like blue hour landscapes. Even reducing exposure (eventually by three and a half stops) tamed the noise, but rendered only the three or four brightest stars visible, which would not have bode well for meteors, most of which are of only very marginal brightness. The Milky Way was not visible, even though it was in a darker area of the sky.
So...we have marked in the "book" that any night sky work is going to require more travel, and we are considering an excursion next year to a true dark sky site. We will try for scheduling during one of the several meteor showers.
I hope that others who were discussing their plans had better results and will perhaps share them with us, either here or in the gallery.
Last night was supposed to the peak of the annual ... (
show quote)
Best I've seen was a couple years ago. Went camping in the mountains, north of Vegas, in the Desert NWR. New Moon. Saw numerous earthgrazers and a lot of meteors, including multiples but...around 2345 the clouds rolled in and that was that. Didn't bother to try shooting. Just enjoyed the show for as long as it lasted. Was quite spectacular til the sky was... Obscured By Clouds. I think David Gilmour & Company had something to do with that!
Next year try Valentine, Nebraska. One of the darkest places in the world and if you don't see anything, Fort Niobrara NWR is right next door for some great scenery and wildlife.
earth is like a car going down highway. after midnight we become the leading edge. The cars front windshield gets morbugs than back windshield
Heading out to East Dark Sky Maine next week. Past peak, but amazingly clear when not overcast. Milky Way visibility was amazing.
I remember sleepover night at summer camp 50+ years ago. Must have been Perseid time because there were lots of meteors that night.
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