h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There are two meteor showers this month, December. The maximum for the first, the Geminids, occurs on the night of the 13 - 14 Dec. That's Sunday night in the UK. The maximum for the other one, the Ursids, is on the night of the 21-22 Dec. Of the two, the Geminids are likely to be the most prolific. In the past up to 100 per hour have been recorded.

I'm just hoping for a bit of clear wether for a change.

Deke

The sky is clear and I have already seen at least 10 meteors at around 10pm.

Hope it stays clear for the next few hours.

t.

Well done
I managed 1 Geminid on Saturday night, then it clouded over. Last night was clouded over from before dark so my grand total so far remains 1.

MC

I posted this in GB's journal already.

I saw a Geminid meteor at 7:43 this morning, on my way into work. It was bright green, brighter than Venus and took about a second to cross the sky.

The sky was bright in the east as the sun will be up soon, and the meteor headed straight into the sunrise.

There should be more this evening and possibly a few tomorrow evening. All you need is a clear sky and darkness. Straight up is where you'll see most meteors.

1 Geminid fireball on Saturday night was my grand total too, MC

Last night was raining, all evening. Still is, having rained all night, oh well, roll on the Ursdis

Gnomon saw a green meteor this morning!

It was a special Irish meteor.

Indeed, it was

I brought my gaggle of kids out to see the meteors, but we only lasted 5 minutes before they started complaining of frostbite, hypothermia and other complications caused by prolonged exposure to cold weather. Nevertheless we saw two meteors and the kids got a good view of the Milky Way, Orion and the Seven Sisters.

I went out again at midnight and there was a small hole in the cloud somewhat amazingly centred on the Twins. No more meteors though and I didn't last long due to the cold.

It's not looking promising for tonight at the moment.

t.

I spent about a half hour outside around midnight.

It was crystal clear and I got a good look at Orion an Mars.

Not one meteor though.

Deke

I saw a bright meteor heading due East as I was on my way to work yesterday, too.

But I was a bit earlier, at 5:20 am.

Zube

It's been cloudy and raining for the last four or five days.
Tonight it's sharp and clear, but too late for any meteorites.Phooey.

Actually I went out just before midnight and marvelled at the crystal-clear sky, stared up for about ten minutes ignoring the crick in my neck and was rewarded with a stray meteor, very high, very swift, like a silent ghostly spear, not far from Orion. Which was magnificent at that time of night, Betelgeuse was like a red beacon. At that time of night Sirius has risen above my bungalow roof, and I saw the whole Winter Triangle. Sirius was the brightest thing in the sky by a long margin, I've seen Venus less stunning. No moon too; which helps

You have way more stamina than me. I gave up after five minutes.

Another chance to see...

If the snow or rain don't get in the way.

The Ursids meteor shower. Not very bright or prolific, but you may be able to see one or two. At least the Moon will be down by midnight.

Deke

Too cloudy here
More snow due

Washout last night for me. 10/10ths cloud.

Deke